Pretoria - Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina will next week lead a delegation of 15 South African exporters to the 32nd Havana International Trade Fair in Cuba.
The objective of the trade fair is to get South African products and services into Cuba. It also aims to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination, said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).
“Cuba is one of South Africa’s most important political partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. The two countries have strong bilateral exchanges in the fields of socio-economic activity,” said Deputy Minister Masina on Thursday.
According to Deputy Minister Masina, the participation by South African companies will provide an excellent platform for identifying trade and investment opportunities in the technology and innovation, metals and mining, electro-technical, chemicals, capital equipment capabilities, and engineering and allied services sectors.
The fair will take place from 2 - 8 November.
In 2013, Cuba ranked 153rd as a destination for South Africa’s exports and 113th as a source of imports globally. Although South Africa has been experiencing a trade deficit with Cuba since 2009, the trade deficit gap is narrowed from R68 million in 2010 to R17 million in 2013.
One of the most significant agreements signed between South Africa and Cuba is the Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC). The objective of JBC is to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
It provides a platform where the two governments participate fully and undertake to work together on multi-disciplinary issues of interest that includes trade and investment cooperation.
The Deputy Minister is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with representatives of government and business in Cuba. - SAnews.gov.za
