The inaugural initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Premier with the full support from the Mohair Association of South Africa and the Cacadu District Municipality, coincides with the UN’s “International Year of the Natural Fibre” in 2009.

The Cacadu district, the leading area producing mohair in the province and South Africa, has evidently been earmarked to host the prestigious agri-business networking event. Karoo towns in the district – Willowmore, Aberdeen, Jansenville, Somerset-East, Graaff-Reinet, Steytlerville, and Pearston – account for a large fraction of South Africa’s contribution towards the world production of mohair. In 2005, South Africa accounted for 58% of the 6 200 000 kilograms of the world’s mohair produce.

Port Elizabeth-based marketing and communications company, Inkanyezi, has been roped-in to execute the event following the acclaimed success of the South African Automotive Week that was coordinated by the company.

Chief executive officer of Inkanyezi, Andrew Binning, says that his team has already submitted a detailed proposal to the Office of the Premier, and is also in talks with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Cacadu District Municipality, the provincial agriculture department, and a number of private financing institutions for financial baking and assistance in kind.

He explains that the initiative will provide networking opportunities for mohair growers, buyers and sellers, processors and spinners, fabric consultants, fashion designers, interior designers, retailers, manufacturers, fashion design and agricultural students.