Sign Africa Journal March/ April 2019 | Page 18

REGULARS SIGN INDUSTRY NEWS CONTINUED NUtec’s Approved Preferential Exporter To EU Status Will Encourage Trade Growth NUtec Digital Ink’s newly attained Approved Preferential Exporter to the EU status was awarded after several months of origin site visits, supplier vetting, quality assurance and production processing audits. The move enables the company to offer its customers shorter delivery times and reduced administrative requirements for exporting into the region. NUtec sales and marketing director Neil Green stated, ‘This is great news for both the company and our EU business partners, who are extremely excited about NUtec’s most recent achievement.’ ‘NUtec will now list its APE status and number on all its invoices, eliminating the need to arrange for the issue of physical EUR1 certificates for each shipment, product or tariff category. This will greatly assist with reducing delivery lead times and lessening the administrative requirements for exporting to the European Union and will further encourage trade growth between NUtec and our EU customers,’ noted Green. NUtec Digital Ink is a South African based digital ink manufacturer exporting to more than 80 countries around the world, including the EU member countries, whose trade relations with South Africa are governed by the Trade, Development and Co- operation Agreement (TDCA). www.nutecdigital.com Africa News: Canon Sees Several Growth Opportunities In Kenya Africa is a fast-developing market for Canon, especially within the next decade as governments and businesses across the region seek to adopt digital innovations and technologies to drive social and economic growth. Imaging technologies are an integral part of this digital transformation as they ensure quick, seamless, efficient and cost-effective operations. They also drive the integration of emerging markets into the global economy and enhance their competitiveness. Yuichi Ishizuka, president and CEO of Canon Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), visited Kenya as part of a regional tour of Africa. The visit reinforces Canon EMEA’s commitment to drive innovation in the region’s imaging industry, adding value to the Kenyan market and the country’s economy. Canon will continue to support its business partners and customers with the latest imaging technologies, products and services. Kenya in particular is a key market in the region, with the World Bank projecting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 5.8% in 2019. Kenya falls within Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), a regional sales organisation formed in 2016 as a strategic step to enhance Canon’s operations within Africa and strengthen its in-country presence. ‘There are several growth opportunities for Canon in Africa and Kenya in particular, as we see it as a gateway to the African continent. The country is on an upward trajectory and witnessing positive transformations that will establish it as a regional business hub. I am honoured to have seen this progress myself as well as assess market dynamics, and better understand our customers’ needs. I also appreciate the amazing job done by our locally based Canon members in enhancing our presence in both consumer as well as business segments in Kenya,’ said Ishizuka. In Kenya, Canon has consistently implemented new initiatives to promote the country’s print and imaging sector as well as support the creation of skilled jobs in the digital media industries, leading to the development of a vibrant and growing audio- visual industry. One of the initiatives in this regard is CCNA’s Miraisha Sustainability Programme, which aims at building the capacity and skills of people in African countries. The programme has already implemented several imaging workshops and seminars to support inspiring photographers and filmmakers by strengthening their knowledge of new innovations, and build their professional capacity so they can find suitable jobs in the industry. The Miraisha Sustainability Programme falls under Canon’s corporate philosophy of `Kyosei,’ meaning ‘living and working together for the common good,’ which allows the company to continue its strong growth in the region with new business initiatives while also promoting impactful CSR activities. www.Canon-CNA.com 18 100 TH ISSUE MAR/APRIL 2019 | www.SignAfrica.com