Pretoria – The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) Deputy Minister, Elizabeth Thabethe, is in Qatar with a business delegation to participate in the World Cup Legacy Exhibition hosted by the department.
The objective of the exhibition, which kicks off today [Sunday], is to showcase the competencies and offerings of South African companies that contributed in building the infrastructure required for the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“The South African companies have developed highly specialised skills and products during the preparations for and the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. For this reason the department is hosting exhibitions to market South African companies’ expertise and explore opportunities for collaboration in projects with future host countries of the FIFA World Cup,” said Thabethe .
Today the deputy minister is expected to deliver a keynote address at a trade and investment seminar that will be attended by both business people from South Africa and Qatar before officially opening the exhibition.
The exhibition will be held in Doha where the deputy minister is leading a group of businesspeople representing 32 South African companies.
Thabethe is also due to hold a bilateral meeting with her Qatari counterpart Sultan Bin Rahid Al Khater during the time of the exhibition which will conclude on Tuesday.
Built environment professionals (construction, consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors, quantity surveying and architects); aerospace, rail and marine (related to transport infrastructure for the World Cup); manufacturing (memorabilia, steel and tube), services (safety and security, ticketing), electro technical (ICT Infrastructure for the World Cup) and agro-processing (processed foods and flowers) are the targeted sectors for the exhibition.
Qatar successfully bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar has planned for high levels of investment in infrastructure and real estate development.
“Approximately US$225 billion between 2011 and 2016, of which US$125 billion has been unveiled for construction and energy projects alone. Spending directly related to preparations for the 2022 World Cup will amount to an estimated US$80 billion, encompassing commercial and infrastructure projects. As a result the construction boom in Qatar is expected to continue, although with different priorities and involving new players, an opportunity that South African companies can explore and grab,” said the deputy minister.
For South Africa, Qatar remains an important and strategic country and it presents opportunities for South African companies in various sectors such as infrastructure, oil and gas as well as agro-processing.
Qatar is South Africa’s tenth largest trading partner in the Middle East region in terms of exports and the fifth largest trading partner in terms of imports.
“Trade between South Africa and Qatar currently stands at R4.1 billion, with a large trade surplus in favour of Qatar,” she said.
South Africa’s main imports from Qatar are petroleum related products while its main exports include chemicals, diesel powered trucks, metals, equipment and parts, as well as fresh and dried fruits. – SAnews.gov.za
