The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, arrived in Angola today to lead a delegation consisting of thirty-three representatives of South African companies. These companies will be participating in the Feira Internacional de Angola (FILDA) trade exhibition that is taking place in the Angolan capital of Luanda from today to Sunday, 21 July 2013.
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has organised a National Pavilion at FILDA and is financially assisting companies to participate. These companies include small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), emerging exporters, women-owned enterprises and large companies from the agricultural equipment, manufacturing equipment, machinery and tools, mining engineering, petro-chemical, and arts and crafts sectors. They will showcase their products at the exhibition with the aim of increasing exports of South African manufactured products to Angola.
FILDA is a multi-sectoral fair attended by exhibitors from different sectors including oil, banking, services, trade, communications, automobile, machines and equipment, and agricultural and farming products, amongst others.
“The exhibition will expose South African companies to trade and investment opportunities available in Angola and other countries participating in the exhibition. It will also be a good platform to promote South African manufactured products in the Angolan market,” says Thabethe.
She adds that the dti is striving to facilitate economic development through promoting outward investment, intra-Africa trade, regional industrialisation and infrastructure development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and the rest of Africa.
Angola ranks as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Its high growth rate is driven by its burgeoning oil sector which contributes about half of the GDP and 90% of exports. Angola’s primary imports include machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts, medicine, food, textiles and military goods.
Angola is increasingly opening its domestic markets and encouraging more competition. The country offers enormous trade and investment opportunities for the South African companies as foreign investors are increasingly sought and welcomed.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
