DEPUTY MINISTER TO LEAD INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSION TO BRAZIL

By Ofentse Mokae
04 July 2009

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (the dti), Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, will lead the South African delegation on an international trade mission to Brazil, from 6-10 July 2009.

The delegation will comprise business people from the following sectors: renewable energy, bio-fuels, automotive components, capital equipment, mining, electro-technical, agro-processing, ceramics wine and cosmetics.

The mission is aimed at showcasing South African goods and services, promoting technology transfer between South Africa and Brazil, and encouraging business collaboration, including the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into South Africa.

Eighty-percent (80%) of those in the South African delegation, are funded by the dti, through the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme.

Chief of Communications for the department Lillian Mofokeng says the purpose of the assistance under the EMIA scheme “is to partially compensate exporters for costs incurred in respect of activities aimed at developing export markets for South African products and services, and recruiting new FDI into South Africa” she said.

She further said the deputy Minister Tobias-Pokolo will deliver a keynote address at business seminars to be held in the cities of São Polo and Belo Horizonte.

The seminars will be attended by business people from South Africa and Brazil, who will be given an opportunity to share ideas on business and export opportunities within diverse economic sectors of the two countries.