Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is to lead a delegation of 23 business people from the built environment, electro-technical, mining and capital equipment, railways and steel fabrication and steel tubing sectors on an outward trade and investment mission (OTIM) to Mozambique.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, said the objective of the mission was to boost economic growth, transfer technology as well as increase the quality and diversity of South African exports to Mozambique.
“South Africa has become the main trading partner for Mozambique and relations between the two countries are very good. These relations are reinforced by the growing ties in trade, investment, tourism, migration, and security,” said Minister Davies.
The business delegation comprises the South African Alternative Energy Association, South African Stainless Steel Development Association, South African Electro-technic Export Council, Built Environment Professionals Export Council, South African Steel Fabricators Business Council as well as the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce.
The mission will provide the South African business delegation the opportunity to interact with Mozambican business decision-makers and present their products and services in one-on-one sessions.
Delegates will also be able to network and build relationships with potential importers and potential investors, participate in round table discussions and conduct site visits to businesses in Mozambique.
The two-leg mission will kick off in the Tete province and proceed to Maputo. The delegation will head to Mozambique on 15 June.
The Minister said a number of agreements to promote trade relations with Mozambique have been entered into over the years.
These include the agreement on the establishment of a Bi-National Commission, regular diplomatic consultations and cooperation of frequency bands.
To further cement relations between the two countries, Minister Davies said the avoidance of double taxation agreement and the agreement on one stop border posts have been put into place.
The creation of the Maputo Development Corridor - linking the port of Maputo with South Africa’s industrial heartland - symbolises the importance of these bilateral ties between the two countries.
Mozambique still forms part of top five South Africa’s trade partners in the Southern African Development Community region.
Total trade between South Africa and Mozambique was R43.9 billion in 2014, increasing from R39.5 billion in 2013. – SAnews.gov.za
