BEE business delegation to Russia and Czech Republic brings business back to KZN
The MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize and Trade & Investment KZN (TIKZN) led a business delegation that included 13 black economic empowerment (BEE) companies based in KZN to the Russian Federation and Czech Republic in May 2008. The companies were exploring opportunities to expand their operations into Eastern European markets.
'The key sectors that were targeted for the mission were tourism, arts and crafts, glass manufacturing, minerals beneficiation, renewable energy and food processing,' said Zamo Gwala, CEO of Trade & Investment KZN. According to Gwala this platform was used to facilitate working relations between local BEE companies, operating in the targeted sectors with related products or packaged projects, and potential business partners.
Tour operators, particularly in the Russian Federation, are looking at new tourist packages to market to Russian tourists. A package for tourism visits to KwaZulu-Natal can be used as an avenue for the tour operators to link with KwaZulu-Natal based tour operators.
The mission consisted of one-on-one pre-arranged business meetings, a political programme and a business seminar to create the awareness of KwaZulu-Natal in both countries. An additional Tourism Day was held in Russia with the aim of promoting KZN as a strong tourist destination.
Among the most important outcomes of the meeting and seminars held in the Czech Republic were:
- An agreement in principle with the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic to partner with KZN to establish close contacts and co-operation between respective Chambers of Business and business communities. The focus will be on sectors of mutual interests, such as the automotive sector, based on availability of aluminium and steel, wood products and furniture, tourism, agriculture and agri-processing
- Support received from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Helena Bambasova, who offered to assist KZN in training and skills development, especially in agriculture
- A proposal by the Technical University (Textiles) in Liberac, the largest of its kind in the world, to train entrepreneurs in the textile industry and students from KZN
- Deputy Minister (acting) of Industry and Trade in the Czech Republic, Mr Vlastimal Lorenz, indicated that the Czech Republic was very keen to diversify its trade links by promoting trade with South Africa
- It was also agreed that a team of Czech Media and travel operators will be invited to South Africa to expose KZN tourism sites to the Czech market
Equally successful meetings were held in the Moscow region of the Russian Federation:
- It was agreed that there was great potential to increase the export of fresh agricultural produce from KZN to the Russian Federation
- The SA/Russian Business Council will liaise with TIZKN to identify three or four concrete partnership projects which can be implemented in KZN in the short term
- Contact details of KZN businesses will be provided to the International Science Bridge organisation in the following specific areas:
o Infrastructure, energy, metallurgy and water purification
o Solar power and heating systems
o The production of sugar and other by-products (sucrose, fructose and paper) from molasses waste, with the potential to increase total sugar production by up to 20%
Awareness of South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal within the Russian Federation and Czech Republic has been created through linkages between the respective governments and business leaders and this is expected to bring positive and concrete benefits to the KZN economy.
For more information on the mission, or for general investment and export information in KZN:
Contact: Perusha Naicker, Communications Officer
Tel: +27 31 368 9600
Cell: +27 83 778 5032
Email: perusha@tikzn.co.za
