CAPE TOWN- The Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI) will lead a group of South African companies to the 17th Annual China Mining Congress and Expo that will be held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention Centre in China from 23-25 September 2017.
The Expo is one of the world's largest mineral investment, cooperation and trading platforms that covers the whole value-chain.
This includes mining services, geological surveying, exploration development, mining rights and minerals trading and mining investment.
According to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, South Africa’s participation in the Expo is a result of SA and China having developed strong bilateral relations during the past decade, sparked primarily by the establishment of the Brics Bloc.
Davies says that South Africa has embarked on a drive to better exploit the mineral resources that is currently at its disposal, by developing its manufacturing industry.
“The long-term view is that South Africa’s mineral endowment could catalyse wider economic development. By this we mean that South Africa is intent on doing much more to develop its manufacturing industry, based on its considerable mineral resources.
Following undertakings of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (CSPA) signed between South Africa and China, and also the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China agreed to support South Africa and Africa’s initiatives of industrialisation and mineral beneficiation,” says Davies.
He adds that the DTI is affording SA companies an opportunity to network with the world’s key policy makers and government officials, to gain insightful market information, to meet with potential partners and to generate business opportunities all in one place.
The companies that are part of the delegation will be assisted by the DTI through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA) and Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS), which aim to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.