The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe says relations that exist between South Africa and India should be looked at as a partnership that seeks to promote the development of small and medium enterprises across all sectors. She was speaking at the opening of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi, India, yesterday.
“The crafts sector is one that has potential in attracting jobs because of its low entry barriers. Events such as the IITF are key in establishing long term business relations with buyers which in turn may translate into job creation opportunities in this sector when crafters seal off tangible deals with international buyers,” said Thabethe.
She added that the sector was one that supported the South African government’s national priorities such as women empowerment, rural and urban development, small enterprise development, export promotion and local beneficiation of products.
Deputy Minister Thabethe is accompanied by nineteen South African businesspeople in the arts and crafts sector, who will be showcasing their products at the IITF until 27 November. The group’s participation at the internationally-acclaimed exhibition has been made possible by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA).
More than 1.5 million people are expected to visit the exhibition in the coming two weeks. The IITF is the largest integrated trade fair with both business-to-business and business-to-consumer components. It is one of the largest trade fairs in the world both in terms of exhibitor and visitor participation.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
