SA on Zim trade mission

beginning today and ending on Friday, the South African embassy said in a statement last week.
The Harare edition will run from October 15 to 16 while the Bulawayo edition will take place on October 18 and 19.
South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, although trade is largely in SA’s favour due to Zimbabwe’s poor economic performance.
South Africa’s Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, will lead the delegation.
The business delegation comprises companies in infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, mining and mining equipment, as well as Information and Communication Technology.
The companies are seeking to export South African value-added products and services or to establish joint venture partnerships with Zimbabwean firms.
“The third Investment and Trade Initiative to Zimbabwe which took place in March this year was a success,” said Ms Thabethe.
“It confirmed that Zimbabwe continues to be an important export destination for South African value-added products. This is evident from the export sales amounting to R22 million recorded at the event by the South African companies who were part of the initiative.
“Export orders worth R107 million were expected to be finalised within a year of the event. The South African businesspeople had an opportunity to discuss business matters, potential deals and partnerships with the 260 businesspeople from Zimbabwe who attended the business seminars and business-to-business meetings. Two hundred trade leads were concluded.”
Ms Thabethe said the South African companies identified opportunities in  Zimbabwe and this should translate into exports of South African products into the country.
She said some companies would be signing long-term contracts to supply their products in Zimbabwe.
Priority sectors in Zimbabwe which have investment potential for South African companies include manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, mining, infrastructure, energy, tourism, social services, telecommunications and energy. 
“The SA government is committed to the Economic Development and Short-Term Economic Recovery Programme of Zimbabwe and we are confident that the Investment and Trade Initiative will go a long way in enhancing economic co-operation with Zimbabwe,” she said
The ITI is part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export and Investment Promotion Strategy, focusing on targeted high growth markets with the objective of creating investment and export opportunities for SA companies and promoting the country as a trade and investment destination.
The ITI activities include exhibitions in cities, sectoral round-table discussions, business-to-business meetings and site visits, providing opportunities to create market penetration for SA value-added products and services in Zimbabwe and joint venture partnerships between companies from both countries.