JOHANNESBURG: Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Mzwandile Masina will lead a trade mission to Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and to its West African neighbour, Ghana for five days, starting next week Monday, the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) announced.
“The objective of [our] Outward Selling and Investment Mission is to increase trade and investment, and deepen bilateral relations between South Africa and these two countries,” the dti said in a statement.
The department further noted that the mission would serve as an ideal opportunity “for South African companies to export value-added products and services to Ghana and Nigeria, and for penetration of companies that are looking for investment opportunities in these African countries”.
According to figures from the dti, bilateral trade between South Africa and Ghana has grown exponentially from R2.6 billion in 2010 to R10.8 billion in 2014, while bilateral trade between South Africa and Nigeria experienced a fluctuating but upward trend during the same period, growing from a total of R20.5 billion in 2010 to R66.2 billion in 2014.
The dti said the upcoming trade mission would target a wide range of sectors that encompass agriculture and agro-processing, build environment professionals, infrastructure, furniture and wood processing, energy and mining.
