The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, will lead a delegation of forty three (43) business people on an Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 16-21 September 2013.
This ITI is part of the Department of Trade and Industry's Export and Investment Promotion Strategy that focuses on targeted high growth markets with the objective of creating investment and export opportunities for South African companies and of promoting South Africa as a trade and investment destination.
The delegation comprises of companies in the following sectors: agriculture and agro-processing, mining and capital equipment, automotive components, infrastructure, construction, engineering, energy, information and communication technology (ICT) as well as high end furniture, seeking to export South African value-added products and services or joint venture partnerships with the DRC companies.
Planned activities during both legs of the ITI include exhibitions, business seminars and business-to-business meetings, providing opportunities to create market penetration for South African value-added products and services in the DRC.
“The ITI to DRC will strengthen cooperation between the business communities of both countries through the formation of joint ventures and partnerships,” says Deputy Minister Thabethe.
She adds that DRC is a strategic country for South Africa, with a domestic market estimated at 75 million and bordered by nine countries with a potential market of 200 million consumers and it presents the largest market for South African products and services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Deputy Minister Thabethe also says that South Africa’s relations with the DRC were formalised through the signing of the General Cooperation Agreement in 2004 which made provision for the establishment of a Bi-National Commission (BNC). The establishment of the BNC served to cement relations between the two countries and paved the way for cooperation beyond the political sphere.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Economic Co-operation was signed in 2004 between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo with key objectives to foster and promote sound economic relations between the two countries.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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