The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will lead a fourteen-member business delegation on an Outward Selling Mission to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from today to 14 February 2013.
The purpose of the mission is to strengthen trade relations between the two countries and position South Africa as a supplier of choice in Saudi Arabia.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says the mission is a follow-up on the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) held last year in Saudi Arabia, which yielded significant results in the terms of exposing South African companies to the Saudi market and deepening bilateral trade and investment relations.
“A commitment was made during the JEC to Ministers that South Africa would follow up with a sector specific mission targeting agro-processing, engineering services, mining and capital equipment, electro-technical, energy, oil and gas,” said Davies.
The intensive programme includes a business forum, targeted business to business meetings and site visits.
The importance of this trade mission is underlined by the fact that Saudi Arabia is South Africa’s largest trading partner and second largest export destination in the Gulf region. Efforts to increase trade are beginning to show results with South Africa’s exports growing by 5% over the last four years.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele
Acting Chief Director: Media Liaison
Cell: 079 5083 457
Tel: 012 394 1643
E-mail: Blukhele@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
