South Africa wants to openly share with Qatar the experience, expertise and knowledge that the country acquired from hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup so that Qatar 2022 can also be a memorable World Cup. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe. Thabethe was addressing business people at a business seminar that was hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in Doha, Qatar today.
The seminar was part of the World Cup Legacy Exhibition that Deputy Minister Thabethe officially opened today and will continue until Wednesday. Thabethe is leading a group of 32 companies that are exhibiting their products and services in Qatar with the aim of being able to establish partnerships with the Qatari companies for the utilisation of their expertise, goods and services as Qatar prepares for hosting the 2022 World Cup.
“Organising a World Cup is a massive task, requiring government, civil society and business to all align and work together towards the same goal. In South Africa we have been through it. We know the pitfalls and have navigated the obstacles. Our culture, like yours, is one that shares. We want to share openly with you our knowledge so that 2022 can be a memorable World Cup. The businesses here are one aspect of this sharing,” said Thabethe.
She added that South Africa and Qatar enjoyed warm and cordial political and economic relations and that the exhibition was an initiative of the South African government to further these ties for mutual economic and development benefit.
“The aim of the initiative is to showcase South Africa’s experiences from hosting the 2010 World Cup, as well as to engage on possible areas for cooperation in light of Qatar hosting the tournament in 2022. It is an opportunity to expose South African companies to new markets in order to explore business opportunities and showcase what the country has to offer. It is also an opportunity for enterprises and organisations in the host country to find new trading partners and benefit from the experiences of the South African companies in supporting the 2022 World Cup,” said Thabethe.
She also said there was a lot of work for business people from the two countries in order to improve trade between the two countries, but particularly to promote South African exports to Qatar.
“Qatar is South Africa’s 6th largest trading partner in the Middle East. Total two way trade amounted to approximately US$483 million in 2012. South African imports from Qatar, however, constitute most of this amount and Qatar enjoys a very large trade surplus with South Africa,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, the Vice Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari said the experience that South Africa was sharing with Qatar will go a long way in ensuring that the 2022 event was a success.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
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Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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