The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe kick-started her Zambian programme of activities through a series of meetings with the Provincial Minister of the Copperbelt province, Honourable Mwenya Musenga and the mayors of the cities of Ndola and Kitwe, Worship Davies Chiwala and Worship Louis Bweupe, respectively in Zambia yesterday.
Deputy Minister Thabethe is in Zambia leading a business delegation of twenty-one South African companies that will be exhibiting at the 56th Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show (CACSS), which will take place in Kitwe from today to 2 June 2013.
In her discussion with the Copperbelt Provincial Minister, Deputy Minister Thabethe emphasised the need for the two countries to strengthen economic ties in order to foster Intra-Africa trade thus reducing the trade deficit between South Africa and Zambia.
“Our countries have always enjoyed strong political and economic ties, and Zambia also features among the Top 40 countries conducting trade with South Africa. Regardless of these ties, there exist plenty of opportunities that we both must explore. Currently there are two agreements between our countries, the 1956 Treaty of Avoidance of Tax and the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation which is yet to be ratified,” said Thabethe.
She added that it was imperative that the South African and Zambian markets collaborate in order to mutually benefit from these relations and to also reduce the trade deficit that currently persists between the two countries.
The Executive Mayor of Ndola, His Worship Davies Chiwala expressed his appreciation at the developmental role South African companies have played in uplifting the Zambian economy.
“South African companies have solidly established their presence in the Zambian economy. To date they have a presence in the retail, security and mining sectors. It is my wish to see the South African companies entering more industries, especially the manufacturing sector,” said Mayor Chiwala.
The companies that will be exhibiting at the expo consist of established multinationals and emerging exporters and have been assisted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA). The EMIA scheme develops export markets for South African products and services and recruits new foreign direct investment into South Africa.
The CACSS is a mining and agricultural expo taking place annually where national and multinational companies are provided with a platform to market and showcase machinery, equipment, technologies, services and supplies for the mining and agricultural sectors. This year’s show will be held under the theme “Mining and agriculture for continued development and prosperity”.
Deputy Minister Thabethe will visit the Pex Hydraulics and Barloworld Equipment Zambia, the two South African companies in Zambia and also meet the Zambian Manufacturers Association.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
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