the dti TO LEAD AN OUTWARD SELLING AND INVESTMENT MISSION TO ZAMBIA

the dti TO LEAD AN OUTWARD SELLING AND INVESTMENT MISSION TO ZAMBIA

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will lead a delegation of thirty-eight (38) businesspeople to participate on an Outward Selling and Investment Mission to Zambia. The mission will take place from 6-8 October 2015 in Lusaka, Zambia.

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.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says 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 R28 billion 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,” says Davies.

He adds that South African exports to Zambia exceeded R29 billion for 2014, while imports from Zambia amounted to just over R1 billion.  Davies says the trade gap has widened significantly between the two countries and needs to be assessed and addressed.

“This platform enables the objective of strengthening bilateral relations, both economic and political between South Africa and Zambia. South African companies participating on this mission will be afforded an opportunity to confer with their Zambian counterparts to forge partnerships and strengthen South African investment in Zambia,” adds Davies.

The delegation will depart on Monday, 5 October 2015 and will participate in business seminars, business-to-business meetings and round table discussions.