The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will lead a delegation of business people on an Outward Selling Mission to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from 23 to 30 November 2013.
The mission aims to build on the commitments made by the dti to expose South African companies to the Middle East market and to deepen bilateral trade and investment relations between these countries.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says the Middle East region is one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for manufactured products and services.
“The Middle East is an important trade zone for South Africa. It holds great potential for South Africa as an export market, and serves as a potential source of foreign direct investment,” said Davies.
Minister Davies says sectors targeted for the missions are agro-processing, manufacturing machinery and equipment, capital equipment and the built environment and chemicals.
The programme for the Outward Selling Mission will include business seminars, business-to-business meetings and site visits.
Saudi Arabia is South Africa’s largest trading partner and second largest export destination in the Gulf region. In 2012 total bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to R61.7 billion.
Kuwait is South Africa’s sixth largest export destination in the Middle East. Total bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to R246 million in 2012.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
