The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe says South Africa’s participation in the Feira Internacional de Angola (FILDA), a popular and well attended five day international exhibition taking place in the Angolan capital, Luanda from 17 to 22 July 2012, will go a long way in boosting bilateral economic relations between the two Southern African countries. Thabethe was addressing exhibitors and visitors at the official opening of the exhibition yesterday.
“South Africa and Angola have a long history of good political and economic relations. The contingent of businesspeople that we have brought here to participate in this popular international exhibition will expose South Africans to the Angolan market. It will also give them an opportunity to network with Angolan and other business people from other countries with the aim of striking deals and establishing joint ventures that will see their products and services being exported and imported from and to various countries in theSouthern Africa Development Community region (SADC), Africa and beyond the continent,” said Thabethe.
She added that Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) strives to facilitate economic development through promoting outward investment, intra-Africa trade, regional industrialisation and infrastructure development within the Southern African Development Community region and the rest of Africa.
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.
Today, Deputy Minister Thabethe also opened the South African National Pavilion at FILDA where twenty nine companies that have been financially assisted by the dti to participate in the exhibition will showcase their products and services with the aim of increasing exports of South African manufactured products to Angola and other international markets. These companies include small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), emerging exporters, women-owned enterprises and large companies.
Before her departure to Angola, Thabethe said FILDA would expose South African companies to trade and investment opportunities available in Angola and other countries participating in the exhibition.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
