DBT opportunities for UK Businesses - South Africa and Travel Retail

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is providing UK businesses with a couple of opportunities to meet international byers in September this year.  Closing dates for both events are 18 July and interested companies are invited to visit the UK Government website to register before the deadline.

Cape Town, South Africa, 1-6 September 2025 - for fashion and beauty companies

Join the DBT team for an opportunity to exhibit at FAME Week Africa and explore Market entry South Africa, in Cape Town, during Africa’s Fashion, Digital and Creative festival.

The mission includes:

• Meetings with Key Digital and Retail Partners;
• Comprehensive briefings on market entry – marketing to the South African Consumer, legal, trademark, banking, IP and Social Media;
• Networking Reception hosted by the British Embassy Cape Town;
• Stand at Fame Africa;
• A physical immersive pop-up on Cape Town’s famed Waterfront to sell product;
• Retail and innovation tour of key concepts stores in Cape Town.

This week is a chance to fully understand who the key players are in Africa’s retail landscape, how to access them and position your brand for the South African market alongside emerging digital trends.

Cost: £1000 per company, (does not include flights and accommodation).  DBT’s recent Webinar on South Africa can be found here.

Register here by end 18 July.  Successful companies will be notified by 25 July.

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Travel Retail, Explorer delegation to TFWA 2025, Cannes, 28-1 October 2025 - for UK registered watches, jewellery, accessories, beauty, food and drink and personal digital companies

DBT is delighted to announce the launch of their trade delegation to Tax-Free World Association (TFWA) Summit in Cannes.

The TFWA Summit is the leading trade show for Travel and Tax-free sector.  It is a closed, invitation only event, with the majority of exhibitors returning year after year and it is notoriously difficult to access.

DBT is looking for UK registered companies in the following categories:  Watches, Jewellery, Accessories, Beauty, Food and Drink and Personal Digital Companies with a minimum turnover of £500k and innovative product who ideally have not attended or exhibited at TFWA previously.

The cost is £250 per company (1 delegate per company) invoiced by DBT, plus the cost to attend TFWA £300, which is a total of £550.  This includes the TFWA pre-mission briefing, a tour of the show, a DBT networking reception with leading industry buyers, support in completing the application to exhibit next year and a ticket for the Frontier Awards Show.  The ticket price of all this would normally be £1500 as a visitor.

This delegation is an explorer overview of the TFWA and an opportunity to network with buyers.
The Delegation programme includes:

1. Access to the attend the TFWA opening reception (Sunday 28 September), conference and show on Monday 29 September and Tuesday 30 September;
2. TFWA hosted tour of the exhibition and advice on completing the application to exhibit in 2025;
3. Introductions to leading Tax-Free partners at the DBT networking reception;
4. Invaluable intel and category reports and  pre mission briefing webinar;
5. Industry workshops, and conference access;
6. Optional Ticket to the Frontiers Awards Dinner on Wednesday 1 October with opportunity to network with the leaders in Travel Retail;
7. Invite to DBT hosted networking reception with fireside chat Kapila Ireland (Editor of DFNI Tax Free Industry Magazine).

Register here by end 18 July.