The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina has urged local companies which will participate in the Angolan International Trade Fair (FILDA) this month to make the best of the opportunity provided by government for them to showcase their products and services at the trade exhibition. The 32nd edition of FILDA will take place in Luanda from 21 to 26 July 2015.
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will set up a National Pavilion at the popular annual trade fair and 25 companies have been selected to exhibit in the pavilion. The companies, who are from Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are operating in agro-processing, capital equipment, manufacturing equipment, machinery and tools, mining engineering, chemicals and automotive sectors.
According to Deputy Minister Masina, participating in the fair will provide the SA companies with an opportunity to showcase their products. In addition, the companies will also gain regional and international business contacts from the more than, increase their knowledge of the Angolan market and be able to appoint agents and distributors for their products.
“One of the dti’s strategic goals is to grow the South African manufacturing sector in order to promote industrial development, job creation, investment and exports. To achieve this objective, the department embarks on international missions and trade exhibitions in order to promote exports of South African value-added goods to increase market share in markets in various regions of the world. This will enable South African businesses to access global markets which will lead to them increasing their production, thereby growing the SA economy and creating employment,” says Deputy Minister Masina.
He adds that providing support to companies to participate in international trade shows and missions is part of the department’s export strategy that has seen almost R3 billion worth of export sales being generated by companies that participated in missions and pavilions organised by the dti in 2013/2014 financial year.
“Increasing South Africa’s exporter base is a vital component for spurring economic growth, improving participation within the economy and generating employment. the dti has in the past three years supported companies to participate in FILDA to leverage on the good relations between the two countries. Through participation last year, the department has facilitated export sales to the value of R10 million,” says Deputy Minister Masina.
Last month, the dti hosted a two-day export workshop in Pretoria under the theme Export-driven Economic Growth and Industrialisation in South Africa. The workshop was also aimed at encouraging collaboration with stakeholders in the implementation of the department’s National Exporter Development Programme (NEDP). The objectives of the programme are to develop a pool of export-ready companies and to ensure that exports grow, and new markets and products are developed. Both are geared towards contributing significantly in achieving the National Development Plan’s employment creation target of 11 million jobs by 2030.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
