AMIE Academy: Showcasing Success for Future Meat Traders

The Association for Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) continues to champion transformation and inclusivity in South Africa’s meat import and export sector through its flagship initiative—AMIE Academy.

Launched in 2023, the AMIE Academy offers a unique 12-month development programme tailored for emerging entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills, industry knowledge, and support to thrive in this competitive field.

From business fundamentals to regulatory know-how and hands-on industry immersion, the programme addresses the real-world challenges facing new entrants in the sector.

A Proven Model for Impact

The Academy’s pilot cohort of five entrepreneurs graduated in June 2025, showcasing the initiative’s success.

The second intake of 14 candidates is already underway, and applications for the third cohort are now open.

With growing demand, the Academy has also launched a publicly available online programme—perfect for onboarding, refresher training, or supplier development in the FMCG industry.

Certificates to the successful pilot programme candidates: Marisa Truter (Tushiyah Xchange) | Seymour Talpert (chairman, AMIE) | Ncumisa Mcata-Mhlauli (chief director of Agro-processing and Forestry-Based Industries at the dtic) with successful AMIE Academy Pilot Candidates: Poppy Malebane | Lwazi Makhaye | Charlotte Pieters | Alan Nldovu | Imameleng Mothebe, CEO of AMIE

The AMIE Academy Fund

To boost sustainability and access, the AMIE Academy Fund was introduced as an innovative mechanism allowing SMEs and corporate sponsors to invest in business development while earning BBBEE scorecard points.

This fund supports governance alignment and empowers SMEs with targeted coaching and technical resources.

Get Involved

Whether you’re a new trader, a business in the meat value chain, or an enterprise looking to invest in meaningful supplier development, AMIE Academy offers a platform to grow with purpose.