SOUTH AFRICA IS READY TO TRANSFER SKILLS AND TO SHARE ITS EXPERTISE WITH DRC

SOUTH AFRICA IS READY TO TRANSFER SKILLS AND TO SHARE ITS EXPERTISE WITH DRC

The Chief Director of Export Marketing and Promotions at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) Ms Zanele Sanni, says South Africa is ready to transfer skills and share its technology with the businesspeople in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sanni was speaking at the business seminar organised as part of the second leg of the Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to the DRC held in Lubumbashi.

According to Sanni, the South African businesspeople were keen to work with their Congolese counterparts in the area of power and electricity, in renewable energy space in order to address the power challenges.

“In partnership with the Congolese public and private sector, we would like to share our technology and expertise to make a direct and meaningful contribution towards regional integration, economic growth and poverty alleviation in Katanga,” highlighted Sanni.

She said by developing synergies and leveraging of the abundant resources, South African and the DRC companies could establish successful partnerships which would not only deliver benefits to the two countries, but also contribute to the development of the continent.

Sanni also said that it was clear that there was greater room to increase investments; grow the volume of two way trade as well as create more diversified balanced exports, which would ensure that more job opportunities are created. She assured the Congolese that the South African government aimed to facilitate and encourage increased sustainable investments by South African companies in the DRC economy.

“That would result in the diversification and industrialisation of the economy to create employment opportunities, technology transfer and much needed foreign exchange earnings, in line with South Africa’s objectives for regional development and integration,” she added.

Speaking at the same event, the Provincial Minister of Budget, Planning Industry and SMEs in Katanga Province, Mr Leon Tshiakwiza said businesspeople needed to take advantage of the platforms such as the ITI, as well as the reforms introduced by the DRC government to improve the business climate in the country.

He explained that the Katanga Province in particular offered opportunities in the transport and energy, agriculture and food, infrastructure and construction, mining, health as well as tourism sectors. Tshiakwiza encouraged businesspeople to grab these opportunities and make the most of them.

A mini exhibition was also opened to allow the South African businesses to showcase their products and services to their Congolese counterparts.

Caption: Provincial Minister Leon Tshiakwiza n Consul-General of SA Mr Andrew Maswanganyi open exhibition in Lubumbashi