Using the most straightforward one-click system ( without registration or profiling ) to get people into a meeting or conference proved to be the best practice .
Benefits of partnering with the Bid Support Programme Working with the Bid Support Programme ensures key decision-makers are greeted with a professional conference hosted by knowledgeable teams . Introducing high- level buyers who have minimal time to enter and discover a new market is phenomenal and creates long-lasting relationships and opportunities . It also provides local sponsors and companies with surety that the conference is world class and has quality attendees .
One of the major benefits of partnering with the Bid Support Programme is its ability to introduce key stakeholders to the South African economy . This synergy benefits startups , SMEs , and Corporates and highlights how important it is to have events and host them in South Africa .
The support from Bid Support Programme made the event a truly pan-African event . Delegates from the rest of the continent are often difficult to entice to South Africa due to restrictive airlines across the continent and budget constraints . They are also often reluctant to spend money to attend an event for the first time .
The funding support from SANCB assisted to break that cycle by allowing these delegates to attend . This had a halo effect in that thereafter they promoted their participation and involvement in the event and the SA economy .
Legacy Following Africa ’ s Ocean Innovation Summit 2021 Hybrid Event , OIA was appointed as an OCEAN DECADE event and thus will have support from the EU for the next 10 years . This overflows to the ocean economy in South Africa as it is a targeted , priority market . In addition , their event partner OceanHub has received interest from many international events for them to be speakers and thought leaders giving insight into other African ocean economy ecosystems .
Main learnings For human beings , communication is key , but the last two years subjected people to isolation with little face to face interaction . As the world is slowly going back to normal , people are longing to reconnect again and are looking for opportunities to communicate . But not just any kind of communication – post pandemic , people are longing for communication with a personal touch . Business events are the platform where people can reconnect but also educate , engage , and connect with key partners in the ocean industry and across the continent . # ShareSouthAfrica
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