Made in the Cape - Innovation in Export Promotion

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wesgro

Listen or watch to understand:

• How Wesgro supports Western Cape exports.
• Why exports are important in general.
• Why it is important for an agency like Wesgro to do what it does.
• How the pandemic and lockdowns effected exporters and Wesgro's ability to facilitate exports from the province.
• How Wesgro's export team responded to the challenges caused by the pandemic.
• The Cape Trade Portal and how it is positioning the Western Cape as a sought after source market.
• The Made in the Cape campaign.
• The future of Made in the Cape and vision for the next 10 years.
• Lessons learned and how the pandemic has changed the way Wesgro operate and offer export facilitation services going forward post pandemic.
• The Western Cape's competitive advantage when it comes to exporting.

About Erica Joubert
Erica Joubert is the Head of Export Promotion at Wesgro. Wesgro's export and OFDI unit is responsible to promote and facilitate the exports of goods and services from qualified companies in the Western Cape, and to facilitate and support operations and expansion of qualified Western Cape companies into the rest of Africa through OFDI.

Prior to joining Wesgro in October 2019, Erica served as Director of Global Market and Intelligence at IHS Markit for 17 years. IHS Markit is a multinational corporation providing information, analytics and technology solutions to international clients. Erica and her team were responsible to consult with executive teams and investor relations departments of international corporations with respect to their company's institutional shareholder base, equity trading activity, peer activity, their interaction with the global investment community and investor relations best practices.

About Joshua Palm
"I have been very fortunate to be part of the Western Cape and Cape Town's Export, Investment and Tourism promotion Agency (Wesgro). My role is within Wesgro's Export Unit, and I focus on special projects. My previous experience was within the Tourism sector and working at Wesgro has truly unlocked my passion for international trade. It is truly rewarding to be working towards bettering the Western Cape economy and promoting our beautiful country as a source destination globally.

About Jean Scheltema
Jean Scheltema is Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Wesgro: the Official Tourism, Trade, Investment, Film Promotion Agency for Cape Town and Western Cape. She is on the Executive team and has 17 years' experience in marketing and advertising.

Jean is an Oxford Said Business School Graduate, with significant time spent in the private sector before moving into the public sector. She has won multiple awards over the past decade and has recently been profiled by Facebook as part their 'Marketing Masterminds' series.

Believing in the power of purpose-centric, design-led creative work with a focus on empathy and human connection, Jean leads a team of 10 creatives within the Wesgro studio. She has experience in managing complex stakeholders and delivering effective marketing and PR strategies.

In her Wesgro capacity, Jean has taken on the roles of IT Steering Committee Chairman, Chairman of the Agency Selection Panel, Member of the Global Tech Positioning project with the Western Cape Government - she is also the creator of Pioneers Magazine, profiling innovative tech companies in the Cape.

In her early days she was a Senior Copywriter and Head of 34's One2One: Digital/CRM/Shopper Marketing. She has experience in through-the-line advertising as has worked on a diverse range of major brands including: Coca-Cola, SAB, Foodcorp, Kimberly-Clark, Johnson and Johnson, SARU, Samsung, NuMetro, Oishi, New Normal, Tessa's Bakery, Bugz PlayPark, Pam Golding, Smart Space, Ground Up, and Hansa Pilsener.

About Wesgro
We are a region of unlimited potential. And this translates into unlimited opportunity. Whether you're interested in travel, investment, film or exporting, Cape Town and the Western Cape have something for you. Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, can help you uncover these opportunities.

As the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, Wesgro assists investors and businesses looking to branch out into the province.

Regardless of the sector your company operates in - be it wine, technology, agriculture or another sector - Cape Town and the Western Cape have all the elements necessary to make your investment a success.

We are a region of unlimited potential, and this translates into unlimited opportunity. We offer expertise and assistance to those looking to travel, invest, film or trade in Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Let Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, help you uncover these opportunities.

Visit: Wesgro