Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has launched South Africa's two-month trade and investment promotion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in China.

The Department of Trade and Industry would be leading trade- and investment- focused activities over the next two months, with an intitial focus on mineral beneficiation, metals and capital equipment.

Davies emphasised that the beneficiation of mineral products was at the top of the South African government's agenda. "We are well known to other countries as producers of mineral products, but government has identified a need for the country to beneficiate or add value to its products before it is exported to other parts of world.”

The Federation of Shanghai Commerce and Industry’s vice-chairperson Jin Liang said: "Instead of focusing on traditional sectors such as textile, China's investment in South Africa is now expanding to new industries, such as energy, minerals, mechanics and construction. The two countries should still work together in sectors such as natural resources, capital, human resources and technology, since both countries have different advantages."

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 has seen more than one-million visitors since it started in May.

Reported by Engineering News