The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina will lead a 30-member business delegation to Zimbabwe on a three-legged Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) which will take place in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo from 13-19 March 2016.
The delegation will consist of companies operating in the agriculture and agro-processing, built environment professionals, oil and gas, mining and capital equipment and electro technical sectors. The programme for the ITI will include business seminars, site visits, mini exhibitions, and business-to-business meetings.
The companies have received assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme. One of the objectives of the scheme is to Increase export market access for South African products and services.
According to Deputy Minister Masina, the ITI is part of the dti’s efforts to cement economic relations and increase trade and investment between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Trade between South Africa and Zimbabwe has displayed a positive growth trajectory. During the period 2005–2014, South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe grew by 247.3% from R7.1 billion to R24.8 billion, with minimal contraction recorded in 2006 and 2009. The current trade balance favours South Africa.
“The mission to Zimbabwe will enable the South African companies to identify trade and investment opportunities in the country and to interact with Zimbabwean businesspeople and consider ways in which cooperation, partnerships and joint-ventures could be established in order to explore these opportunities. The ITI will be a platform that will bring businesspeople from the two countries together to discuss ways in which they can contribute meaningfully in increasing trade and investment between the countries. South Africa is committed to participating actively in the reconstruction and development of the Zimbabwean economy. We believe the private sector has a critical role to play in growing our economies which are complementary and fundamentally linked,” says Masina.
He adds that the ITI is also part of the dti’s integrated national export strategy aimed at developing new markets for South Africa’s value-added and manufactured goods and services with an emphasis on Africa and the emerging markets.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
