Elizabeth Thabethe
Pretoria – Trade and Industry (dti) Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe is in Algeria to expose South African companies to trade opportunities on the continent.
“The trade mission is also expected to expose South African companies to export opportunities and will provide a platform to promote South African products to potential new customers and penetrate new markets,” said Thabethe who arrived in Algiers on Sunday.
Thabethe is leading a delegation of South African businesses to the three-day Outward Selling Mission that kicked off on Sunday.
The objective of the mission is to create market access for South African value added products and services into new markets and to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination.
“The sectors that will be focussing on mainly are Agriculture and agro-processing, infrastructure, oil and gas, mining and capital equipment, Information Communication Technology and financial services,” she said.
Thabethe will also address a business seminar on Monday that will be hosted by the Ministry of Industries for Small and Medium Enterprises and Investment Promotion. Later in the day she will also address delegates at the Algeria Chamber of Commerce which will also be attended by the private sector and the South African business delegation.
Additionally as part of her visit the deputy minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the Algerian Minister of Commerce M. Mustapha Benbada and a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development M. Rachid Benaissa.
Algeria has been the leading export destination in North Africa for South African products from 2008 – 2012. Over the period 2008 – 2012, trade has been favourable to South Africa with total exports amounting to R8.1 billion while imports amounted to R672 million.
The trade volume between Algeria and South Africa for the period of 2008 – 2012 was R14.4 million. The trade balance between the two countries amounted to R 7.4 billion in favour of South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
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