The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe has urged the South African business people to foster sustainable partnerships with their Zimbabwean counterparts in order to contribute to the economic growth and employment creation efforts of both countries.
Thabethe, who arrived in Zimbabwe on Sunday, was speaking during the official opening ceremony of the South African pavilion at the 54th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo today.
She is leading a group of forty-seven South African companies which will be participating in the exhibition that started today and will end on Saturday, 27 April 2013.
“We as the Department of Trade and Industry have a mandate to support companies market their products internationally, identify markets outside the country and network with companies from other countries of the world. We want to see economic development and growth in the African continent. We also want to create five million jobs by 2020. Our participation in this international trade fair provides companies from both countries with an opportunity to establish partnerships and contribute in achieving our goals,” said Thabethe.
She added that the number of South African companies has increased from 34 last year, to 47 this year because the department recognises that the Zimbabwean economy has much to offer in terms of opportunities that business people from both countries can take advantage of and explore.
Speaking at the same function, the South African ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Vusi Mavimbela, said economic and trade relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe need to be strengthened even further for the benefit of citizens of both countries. He identified cooperation and partnerships in infrastructure development as one of the most important initiatives that the two countries have undertaken with the aim of strengthening relations.
He said the Zimbabwean road network rehabilitation and construction by the South African company, Group 5, was one of the ways in which relations between the two countries were being strengthened, and partnerships are being fostered.
“Only two weeks ago Group 5, supported by the Southern African Development Bank, launched the first major toll road in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the bank is investing in Zimbabwe in the tune of more than R2 billion for the next two years. The construction of the roads in Zimbabwe and the investment by the development are underwritten by the South African government. This further makes point that relations between two countries must be strengthened,” said Mavimbela.
He added that South Africa’s foreign policy was underpinned by the fact that the country is committed to building relations and partnerships in the continent not create “supermarkets” as some people claim.
“We invest in building relations, transfer of skills and establishing partnerships in countries such as Zimbabwe so that the investment in the long run becomes a really indigenised Zimbabwe investment with our participation. Therefore, I hope you did not come here to put goods on shelves to sell but look for partnerships. That is the best way in which you can grow and become part of the culture and of the economy of this country,” Mavimbela advised the South African business people.
The ZITF is a multi-sectoral, multi-national expo which is widely recognised as the largest intra-regional trade fair south of the Sahara. This year’s exhibition will be held under the theme “Building value, Enhancing growth”.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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