The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe will lead a business delegation comprising of representatives from thirteen South African companies on an Outward Trade and Investment Mission to Equatorial Guinea from today to 8 February 2013, with the aim of exploring business opportunities and increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
According to Thabethe, this is a follow-up to a state visit by President Teodore Nguema Mbasogo to South Africa in 2011 where the two countries sought to establish and strengthen bilateral ties.
“This mission will be taking place within the context of South Africa’s strategic engagement with the rest of the continent, aimed at supporting Africa’s economic revival, socioeconomic development and promoting intra-Africa trade. It will also expose South African companies to export and investment opportunities in Equatorial Guinea and allow South African companies an opportunity to interface with their counterparts in Equatorial Guinea in an endeavour to forge partnerships and joint ventures,” said Thabethe.
The programme during the trade and investment mission will include a trade and investment seminar, business to business meetings and site visits. The sectors that will be targeted for this mission include agro-processing, infrastructure, electro technical, and capital and mining equipment.
“I am confident that at the completion of this mission we will have achieved our objective of increasing our exports to Equatorial Guinea, we will have obtained sufficient market intelligence and we will have fostered prosperous economic ties with the country,” concluded Thabethe.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Acting Chief Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 012 394 1643
Cell: 079 5083 457
E-mail: Blukhele@thedti.gov.za
