The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe arrived in Algeria where she is leading a delegation of South African businesspeople for the Outward Selling Mission scheduled to take place in Algiers from 5 to 7 May 2013.
The objective of the mission is to create market access for South African value added products and services into new markets and to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination.
Thabethe says that the purpose of the mission is an opportunity to advance South Africa's export and investment agenda.
"The trade mission is also expected to expose South African companies to export opportunities and will provide a platform to promote South African products to potential new customers and penetrate new markets. The sectors that will be focussing on mainly are Agriculture and agro-processing, infrastructure, oil and gas, mining and capital equipment, Information Communication Technology and financial services," she said.
Thabethe’s programme will include bilateral meetings with the Minister of Commerce M. Mustapha Benbada and a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development M. Rachid Benaissa in Algiers. Tomorrow she will address a business seminar that will be hosted by the Ministry of Industries for Small and Medium Enterprises and Investment Promotion and later in the day she will also address delegates at Algeria Chamber of Commerce attended by the private sector and the South African business delegation.
Algeria has been the leading export destination in North Africa for South African products from 2008 to 2012. Over the period 2008 to 2012, trade has been favourable to South Africa with total exports amounting to R8.1 billion while imports amounted to R672 million. The trade volume between Algeria and South Africa for the period of 2008 to 2012 was R14.4 million. The trade balance between the two countries amounted to R7.4 billion in favour of South Africa.
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