The Deputy of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on an official visit to promote investment opportunities. Thabethe is leading a business delegation on an Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to the DRC.
The Deputy Minister says that the purpose of a week long ITI is to create market penetration for South African value added products and services as well as to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination. She says the visit will strengthen economic cooperation between the business communities of both countries by the formation of joint ventures and partnerships.
Planned activities during the ITI include trade and investment seminars, exhibitions, business-to-business meetings and site visits, all of which will provide opportunities to create market penetration for South African value-added products and services in the DRC.
Today Thabethe will address a business seminar and open exhibitions whereby South African companies will showcase their products. The showcasing will be in the automotive components, infrastructure, engineering, construction, energy, high-end furniture, agriculture and agro-processing, mining and capital equipment, as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
According to Thabethe, the DRC like most African countries presented a wealth of business opportunities for South African companies. Earlier Deputy Minister Thabethe led a business delegation on an Investment and Trade Initiative to Zimbabwe. She called on South African business people to invest in Zimbabwe saying the country presents a developing market for a wide of South African goods.
She emphasised that South Africa's economy is inextricably linked to those of other African countries and that South Africa has a strong interest in promoting higher levels of industrialisation and regional economic integration on the continent.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe (Departmental Spokesperson)
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
