Pretoria - The Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) kicks off today in Brazil, with Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Thandi Tobias-Pokolo leading 45 South African companies to the five-day event.
This is the third ITI to Brazil organised by the dti and its focus will be on South Africa's World Cup Legacy.
"ITIs create an excellent platform to showcase South Africa's manufacturing and export capabilities as well as investment prospects in the markets in which the ITIs are held, which are targeted high growth markets. This ITI will increase exports through the profiling of South Africa's competencies and expertise for the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa," Tobias-Pokolo said.
The companies participating in the initiative are from the built environment, construction, aerospace, rail and marine, manufacturing, agro-processing, services and electro technical sectors.
The ITI will span three host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil namely, Sao Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre, with the initiative envisaged to afford emerging exporters an opportunity to learn about the export process and related logistics.
"The ITI will also explore potential that may exist in having South African companies partner with Brazilian companies in tendering for projects to realise the 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup," the deputy minister said.
The initiative is also expected to help emerging exporters gain insight into the Brazilian market. The ITI programme will include trade and investment seminars as well as site visits among others.
The ITI concludes on Friday.
