Pretoria - Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe will lead a 75 member business delegation on an Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The ITI, which aims to create market penetration for South African value added products and services as well as to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination, will be held in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi from 13 to 21 June.
Thabethe said the initiative will strengthen economic cooperation between the business communities of both countries by the formation of joint ventures and partnerships.
"Participation by South African companies in the ITI will provide an excellent platform for identifying trade and investment opportunities in the two countries in the targeted sectors, create awareness of South African value-added goods and services, and increase South Africa's exports to DRC. It will also promote outward investment to the DRC as well as joint ventures between South African and DRC companies," said the deputy minister.
The delegation comprises of companies in the automotive components; infrastructure; engineering; construction; energy; high-end furniture; agriculture and agro-processing; mining and capital equipment, as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Planned activities during the ITI include trade and investment seminars, exhibitions, business-to-business meetings and site visits, all of which will provide opportunities to create market penetration for South African value-added products and services in the DRC.
The deputy minister said the DRC like most African countries presented a wealth of business opportunities for South African companies.
"South Africa's participation in the reconstruction and development of the DRC can be achieved by continuous government to government engagement and exposing South African companies to the DRC market." said Thabethe.
