The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has arrived in the Chinese capital of Beijing to lead the final leg of the South African Expos in China. The expos, which aim to showcase South African value-added products and strengthen trade relations between the two countries, started in Hong Kong on 20 October 2014 and will end in Beijing tomorrow.
Minister Davies, who is leading a 51 member business delegation will open the South African exhibition, address the investment seminar targeting South African companies and Chinese business people having investment interests in South Africa. He will also engage with several potential Chinese investors in an effort to attract foreign direct investment into South Africa, meet with the Ministry of Commerce and further engage the media on the latest trade issues relating to South Africa and China.
Beijing is one of the largest economies in China and holds a number of prospects for South African businesspeople.
Minister Davies says that this year marks 16 years of diplomatic ties with China and has been declared The Year of South Africa in China.
"The commemoration of The Year of South Africa in China signifies the good relations that the two countries have shared in terms of diplomatic relations. We would like to further extend these to trade relations to ensure that the imbalance relating to trade between the two countries is corrected," says Minister Davies.
He adds that although China is South Africa's biggest trading partner, China has been benefiting more from the trade relationship. He also says South Africa wants to increase the number of value added products exported into China hence the promotion of the top 10 value-added products during the expos.
"The top 10 identified products and projects cut across different sectors of the economy as outlined in the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) leaving considerable growth scope for South Africa to diversify its export base to China," he highlights.
According to Minister Davies, The Year of South Africa in China commemorations also coincides with South Africa's celebration of 20 years of freedom and democracy.
"South Africa will therefore conduct a series of activities including cultural promotions, art shows, trade exhibitions and fairs, academic research and educational exchanges in China, with China undertaking a variety of introduction, promotion and exchange activities in South Africa," he adds.
The expos in Beijing start today and end tomorrow.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
