Dti leads investment mission to Brazil

“The ITI will focus on showcasing South Africa’s diverse range of capabilities to produce world class products and services in the targeted sectors, which include agro-processing (rooibos tea, dried fruits, spices, sauces, frozen fish and sparkling 100% fruit juice), industrial chemicals and automotive components,” said Minister Rob Davies. The business delegation will visit Porto Alegre and São Paulo.

The Minister said South African companies have made inroads into the Brazilian market, with select products being marketed by companies with a strategic and long-term perspective of the Brazilian market. South African companies, said the Minister, have developed highly specialised skills and products and there are various opportunities for South African companies to market their expertise and collaborate in projects with their Brazilian counterparts.

The programme of the ITI will include a trade and investment seminar, business-to-business meetings and sector-specific business site visits to companies in São Paulo and Porto Alegre. The ITI will conclude on Friday.

ITI to Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, deputy director general of export promotion at the dti, Pumla Ncapayi, said the trade and investment mission that the South African government undertakes to Zimbabwe every year goes a long way to cementing close historical, economic and political ties. The dti, together with a business delegation, has been on an ITI to Zimbabwe since Sunday.

Ncapayi was addressing delegates who attended the Investment and Trade Business Seminar hosted by the dti in Harare on Monday. “We are undertaking ITIs in a bid to further cement the close historical, economic and political ties that have bound our two economies since the times of South Africa’s liberation struggle. South Africans are truly grateful for the support received from the people of Zimbabwe during our struggle for liberation.

“Today we share a common destiny of mutual pursuance of stable democratic governance, economic growth and socio-economic development. We, therefore, share a sense of kinship with the people of Zimbabwe, which we believe forms a solid basis for the strengthening of business ties,” said Ncapayi.

She said South Africa remained committed to partnering with Zimbabwe in the realisation of the two countries’ economic aspirations. She said Zimbabwe had been at the forefront of a number of historical milestones in advancing the industrialisation agenda in Africa. These include the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and the Tripartite Free Trade Area.

“Both of these initiatives will see Africa attaining self-sustaining development through value addition, employing strategies that boost production capacity of industries, developing infrastructure that leverages industrialisation and promotes technological advancement,” emphasised Ncapayi.