BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies

Before the Event

• What were the main challenges or barriers you faced in finding international partners in China/other BRICS markets? 

  One of the major challenges is identifying the right partner within a very large technology and manufacturing ecosystem. There are many suppliers, but finding companies with the appropriate technology, quality standards, long-term commitment and willingness to jointly develop solutions for African market requirements requires significant due diligence. There are also practical barriers involving distance, language, market knowledge and establishing trusted relationships with decision-makers. The BCIC platform helped reduce these barriers by creating a structured environment where relevant companies could engage directly. 

• What type of partners were you specifically looking for? 

  We were looking for OEMs, technology developers and strategic partners in areas including Industrial IoT,  new energy, electric mobility, AI, smart infrastructure and utility technologies. Importantly, we were seeking partners willing to support joint business development, demonstration projects, skills transfer, localisation and long-term African market development rather than simply establishing buyer-seller relationships.

The BCIC Matchmaking Experience

• How did you learn about / become involved in the BCIC matchmaking event? 

  I became involved through the BRICS Industrial Competencies cooperation and matchmaking initiative and was invited to participate in the Xiamen programme as a South African company seeking technology and industrial partnerships. 

• How did the event help you identify and connect with relevant potential partners? 

  The matchmaking process provided access to pre-identified companies whose technologies aligned with our strategic areas of interest. More importantly, it enabled direct engagement with company representatives and decision-makers, allowing us to move quickly from introductions into discussions around actual technologies, market requirements and potential cooperation models. 

• Approximately how many companies did you meet during the matchmaking event? 

  I had meaningful engagements with several companies during the programme, including Delta Networks (Xiamen)/FUDA, Wide IoT, XIPE, Top Fence/Solardyna and other technology companies. The opportunity pipeline was actually larger than the time available during the mission. There were additional companies that I had identified but was unable to meet, which has created a strong basis for follow-up engagements and a future return to China. 

• What made the BCIC matchmaking approach useful or different from your previous business networking experiences? 

  The key difference was the combination of targeted matchmaking, direct company engagement and exposure to the technology ecosystem in China. Rather than attending a general exhibition and trying to identify potential partners independently, the BCIC approach helped connect companies based on complementary capabilities and business objectives. This allowed discussions to progress beyond networking towards practical areas of cooperation. 

• If possible, can you quantify any expected or realised impact? 

  It is still early to quantify the impact in terms of revenue or jobs because several opportunities are progressing through technical, commercial and partnership-development stages. However, the mission has already resulted in multiple strategic cooperation opportunities covering Industrial IoT, Energy Management Systems, electric mobility, renewable energy and smart infrastructure. Our objective now is to convert selected opportunities into funded pilot and demonstration projects in South Africa. Successful pilots would provide reference sites for subsequent commercial deployment in South Africa and potentially other African markets.

Impact

• What has changed for your company as a result of participating in the matchmaking event? 

  The mission has significantly strengthened our international technology partnership pipeline and helped refine our strategy. We have moved from broadly identifying international suppliers towards developing a more focused partnership model based on technology selection, demonstration, localisation, skills transfer and commercial deployment. The experience has also reinforced our ambition to position Rivoni Matimba as a bridge between global technology innovation and African infrastructure requirements. 

• Has the event opened opportunities that you would not otherwise have been able to access?

  Yes. The event provided direct access to technology manufacturers, developers and business leaders that would have been considerably more difficult to identify and engage independently. It also created an environment of trust and institutional support, which is particularly important when establishing cross-border partnerships. 

• What are the next steps with the partners you met? 

  We are continuing technical and commercial engagements with selected partners. Our immediate priorities are to identify suitable customer use cases, establish pilot and demonstration sites in South Africa, develop joint go-to-market strategies and secure appropriate funding for pilot implementation. Where the pilots demonstrate technical and commercial viability, our longer-term objective is to progress towards wider deployment, distribution, local technical support, skills development, assembly and ultimately greater localisation of selected technologies.

 Quote

• In one sentence, how would you describe your experience with BCIC and the value of the matchmaking event? 

  “BCIC connected us with the right partners and opened new opportunities for collaboration.