5 November 2009
1. UK & EUROPE
In response to media enquiries arising from the speech to British & European business leaders at a PBF event in London last week, the PBF confirms that two or three or more similar events are planned for 2010 in the United Kingdom and Europe. In his speech, which was well received by the more than 100 businessmen who attended, the Treasurer General, Dr. Mathews Phosa, confirmed this as follows: "The Co-Convenors of the PBF, Renier Schoeman and Daryl Swanepoel, will engage with you regarding further events next year where members of the ANC leadership as well as government Ministers will engage with you here in London on issues that define our commercial and other relationships".
"Requests for ongoing feedback on political developments in South Africa and the positive responses that have been received in the UK since the event, will be carefully considered, so as to build on the positive sentiments generated by the event", says Renier Schoeman, Co-Convenor of the PBF.
2. PBF TRADE & TOURISM SEMINAR IN CHINA
Next week the ANC's Progressive Business Forum will be will be hosting a Tourism & Trade Seminar in Guangzhou, China in association with the China Economic Cooperation Centre. Other organisations assisting in this seminar are the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Authority and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
South Africa's Minister of Social Development, Ms Edna Molewa and the ANC Treasurer General, Dr. Mathews Phosa, will accompany this, the largest PBF delegation to date, consisting of more that 80 businessmen and women, to Guangzhou. The Vice Minister of the International Department, Central Committee of the CPC will also address the seminar.
"The PBF has decided to embark on these trade missions in order to give further practical content to the bi-lateral trade agreements between the two countries", Daryl Swanepoel, Co-Convenor of the PBF said. "Our primary focus is on broadening our global footprint in the developing world, and to further promote South-South relationships", he said. These missions are organised in order to add real economic value to the businesses' participation in the forum.
Swanepoel said that this was the third trade mission this year. In June a 65 strong PBF delegation led by Deputy Water & Environmental Affairs Minister, Rejoyce Mabudafhasi went to Cuba, and in September some 76 companies joined Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry, Thandi Tobias, to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The missions are organised in a manner that educates delegates in 'doing business' in the host country; and vice versa to introduce the host countries' participants in the events, in this instance the Chinese participants, to the South African economy. Pre-arrangements have been made whereby South African companies will be introduced to likeminded Chinese enterprises for purposes of exploring trade and investment opportunities, and to introduce businesses to each other in order to establish relationships between them, which could potentially lead to mutually beneficial trade.
Issued by:
Jackson Mthembu
ANC National Spokesperson
Enquiries: PBF Co-Convenors
Renier Schoeman 083 251 4045
Daryl Swanepoel 083 799 6058