SA BUSINESS DELEGATION ARRIVES IN THAILAND

SA BUSINESS DELEGATION ARRIVES IN THAILAND  

The South African business delegation has arrived in Thailand for the Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM) supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). The OSIM will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 28 – 30 July 2014.

The objective of the OSIM is to create market access for South African value-added products, and services to enter Asian markets, and profile South Africa as an investment destination of choice. The choice of these two countries informed by the dti’s diversification strategy which aims to leverage market opportunities and ensure that South Africa’s exports to dynamic high growth markets facilitated.

The business delegation will participate in various business-to-business meetings, site visits and trade and investment seminars.

The Director of Golden Touch Manufacturing Jewellers, Mr Mbulelo Singapi from Uitenhage, in Port Elizabeth, who is part of the delegation, said his company was looking forward to meeting key decision makers and exchanging business ideas with the Thai business people.

 “The key is always to prepare before you get to these meetings and seminars so that you can always return with something tangible for your business to move forward,” added Singapi.

Singapi said despite being a small manufacturing company, they do have the capacity to produce any amount of order should they manage to sign deals in Thailand.

Sectors targeted for the Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM) are agro-processing, jewelry and automotive components sectors.

Total trade between Thailand and South Africa was R31.1 billion in 2013; with a trade balance of R22 billion in favour of Thailand. South African exports to Thailand totalled 4.6 billion, while imports totalled R26.5 billion in the same year. South Africa mainly source special classification products such as vehicle parts which constitute 45% of imports.