SA companies in Maputo for FACIM fair

The 50th Feira International de Maputo (FACIM) trade fair in Maputo where 29 South African companies are exhibiting their wares to Mozambique investors particularly in transport and communications sectors. Image: Desafio

The 29 companies participating in the fair have received some assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

According to the DTI's Economic Counsellor in Mozambique, Matome Kgowedi the goal for South African companies participating at FACIM is to tap into the growing Mozambican market for transport and communication equipment and services, where South African companies have the capacity to supply these.

"Mozambique is one of South Africa's Top-5 trading partners in Africa and we want to expand our market share to enable our companies to compete with other countries that have made substantial inroads into the country," said Kgowedi.

The Director of Export Promotion at the DTI, Dr Julius Nyalunga, said Mozambique is one of South Africa's most important strategic countries with relation to the Trade and Investment South Africa's diversification strategy on Africa.

"It is one of the countries that we are targeting with the understanding that it is among the ten fastest growing economies in the world, and that it has signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with South Africa to strengthen trade relations," said Nyalunga.

He further said that they want to increase the market share of South African companies in Mozambique.

"We also intend to increase South Africa's outward investment into Mozambique, but it is interesting for us to understand that if we are not going to aggressively participate in Mozambique, there is going to be a challenge because competitors the world over are here and they are trying to get a foothold in Mozambique's market."

The purpose of FACIM is to promote commercial activities, stimulate production and consumption, and enhance the economic integration of Mozambique in the world economy.

The delegation comprises 19 small-, medium- and micro-sized enterprises, four historically disadvantaged companies and six emerging exporters.