Value Proposition
Membership of the ISF
Membership is open to all companies providing products or services that are associating with the ISF’s official object, and do not intend to only join to receive information to compete from outside Southern Africa with the current ISF membership.
The main objective of the ISF is export promotion and export development of steel and steel intensive construction and pressure equipment by local and global collaboration.
Value Proposition of the ISF to Members
As the ISF mainly operate in the bespoke project construction markets, the value proposition of the ISF will vary from member to member and project to project. In general, the following has been main quoted attractors in the past for members:
- The ISF brand is well accepted in many countries and industries and being a member ease the introduction of new members to new foreign clients.
- The ISF maintains a close relationship with a wide international client base based on electronic contact as well as in-person visits and shares this information with members.
- Members, in limited numbers, also join the ISF on its frequent visits to international marketing events and direct client visits.
- Members share the ISF booths at international and local exhibitions at no cost.
- The ISF assist qualifying members to receive dtic financial support for taking part in dtic National Pavilions and Missions.
- The ISF platform and local activities allow new entrants and members to interact with experienced and established exporters. Often new entrants start their export endeavours by sub-contracting to other ISF members.
- Export pricing often requires special input pricing only achievable by collaboration with steel merchants and mills. As the ISF membership base include both, the ISF is instrumental in assisting in obtaining project pricing for qualifying projects.
- The ISF is well-respected by both local private sector and Governmental organisations. The ISF’s input and assistance is therefore often requested by these organisations, ensuring ISF members are often placed in an advantageous position.
- The ISF often serves as an informal mediator between members, clients, the various interface levels in the steel value chain and Government.
- The ISF is often the first stop for an enquiring prospective foreign client and will always give preference to its own qualifying members and only when the requirements clearly cannot be serviced by existing members, will non-members be approached.
- The ISF maintains excellent relationships with its Governmental partner, the dtic as well as its foreign offices. The ISF assists with introductions of members to South African missions such as Embassies around the globe where assistance or advice is required.
- The ISF Board is carefully selected to ensure access for members to excellent leadership in many spheres and industries.
- The ISF also stays abreast of all new developments potentially having a substantial effect on our members whether locally or internationally.
Standard Steel Stocks
Southern Africa is served by an excellent network of steel merchants and service centers supplying a wide range of primary and intermediate steel products ex-stock.