PRETORIA – 4TH OCTOBER, 2015 – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of South Africa will lead a delegation of 38 businesspeople to participate in an Outward Selling and Investment Mission to Zambia. The mission will take place in Lusaka from 6 – 8th October, 2015 in Lusaka.
The delegation will depart tomorrow, Monday, 5th October 2015 and will participate in business seminars, business-to-business meetings and round table discussions.
And Zambia has welcomed the investment mission saying this would help in narrowing the trade deficit that has been in favour of South Africa.
Zambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba has urged the Zambian business community to take advantage of the visit so that the trade deficit with South Africa, particularly in value added or non-traditional exports could be lessened.
Mr. Mwamba noted that South African exports to Zambia exceeded R29 billion for 2014, while imports from Zambia amounted to just over R1billion pointing out that this needed to be assessed and addressed.
He said it was exciting that Zambia remained South Africa’s key investment destination as demonstrated by the investment visit which has been organised by the Government of that country.
Mr. Mwamba said the visit came at the right time, as it coincided with the establishment of the Zambia –South Africa Business Council (ZSABC) which the High Commission, with the help of some Zambians resident in South Africa, was spearheading. ZSABC’s main objective is to bring together businesses from the two countries by providing a platform from which concerns and suggestions could be tabled.
The business delegation will comprise of businesspeople from the agro-processing, built environment professionals, capital equipment, electro-technical, infrastructure, metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment sectors.
South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has said that the mission will have a positive impact in terms of increasing export sales from South Africa into the Zambian market over the long term, which will lead to job creation. He adds that the mission will further expose South African companies to available export and investment opportunities and enable them to obtain new business leads and identify new market opportunities in Zambia.
“Trade between South Africa and Zambia has increased from over R15 billion in 2011 to more than R28bn in 2014. South Africa is Zambia’s main trading partner in the Southern African Development Community region, whilst Zambia is South Africa’s fourth trading partner,” Dr. Davies said.
“This platform enables the objective of strengthening bilateral relations, both economic and political between South Africa and Zambia. South African companies participating in this mission will be afforded an opportunity to confer with their Zambian counterparts to forge partnerships and strengthen South African investment in Zambia,” Dr. Davies added.
Issued by:
Nicky Shabolyo
Press Secretary
ZAMBIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Cell: +27 (0) 810027548
Email: press@zambiapretoria.net or nshabolyo@gmail.com