The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina will lead a delegation of 15 South African exporters to the 32nd Havana International Trade Fair taking place in Havana, Cuba from 2-8 November 2014.
The objective of the trade fair is to create market penetration for South African value-added products and services in Cuba and to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination.
According to Deputy Minister Masina, the participation by South African companies will provide an excellent platform for identifying trade and investment opportunities in the technology and innovation, metals and mining, electro-technical, chemicals, capital equipment capabilities, and engineering and allied services sectors.
“Cuba is one of South Africa's most important political partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. South Africa and Cuba have strong bilateral exchanges in the fields of socio-economic activity. One of the most significant agreements signed between South Africa and Cuba is the Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC). The objective of JBC is to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in all fields. It provides a platform where the two governments participate fully and undertake to work together on multi-disciplinary issues of interest that includes trade and investment cooperation,” said Masina.
Masina's programme will include several bilateral meetings with representatives of government and business.
In 2013 Cuba ranked 153rd as a destination for South Africa's exports and 113th as source of imports globally. Although South Africa has been experiencing a trade deficit with Cuba since 2009, the trade deficit gap is narrowing from a high of R68 million in 2010 to R17 million in 2013.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Twitter: @the_dti
