CenterState CEO helps organize trade mission to South Africa and Namibia

SYRACUSE — CenterState CEO is helping to arrange a trade mission for businesses to visit South Africa and Namibia, scheduled for Sept. 16 through Sept. 24.

CenterState is working with the international division of Empire State Development (ESD) and the U.S. Small Business Administration on this trade mission.

It will provide companies within New York’s high-tech and renewable-energy sectors the chance to explore export markets in these locations in southern Africa, CenterState CEO said in a news release.

This region of Africa is a “fast adopter” of high-tech imports and is seen as a “particularly good market for products and services in the clean-tech sector,” CenterState said.

South Africa and Namibia together imported nearly $120 million in pumps, thermostats, and air coolers in 2012, along with more than $50 million in water filtration and other waste-management products, the organization said.

New products are “generally well-received” in the two countries, allowing U.S. companies to “compete favorably” with domestic and international competition, according to CenterState CEO, a Syracuse–based economic-development organization and chamber of commerce.

Prior to the mission, the organizing agencies will provide participating companies with market reports and pre-qualified lists of potential sales agents and distributors or end users for their goods or services, CenterState CEO said.

New York’s South Africa representative will set all appointments and meetings on behalf of participants. The group will have market-briefing and orientation sessions upon arrival in South Africa and Namibia.

ESD will reimburse companies for round-trip coach airfare and 10 nights lodging, according to CenterState CEO.

To register, contact CenterState CEO at (315) 470-1925. The registration deadline is Aug. 2.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com