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The South African businesspeople who are on an Outward Trade and Investment Mission (OTIM) to Peru say the business seminar that they attended in the capital city Lima, yesterday has given them more hope and confidence that they will not return from the South American country empty-handed.

The businesspeople listened with admiration and anticipation as the mouth-watering business opportunities that are presented by the Peruvian economy were outlined by various experts during the day-long seminar hosted by the Lima Chamber of Commerce.

“It was interesting to notice from the presentation on the country’s macro-economic profile that there is such a lucrative market for investment in Peru, particularly in construction. There is such a huge demand for housing and the major projects that they are rolling out from next year present overwhelming opportunities. But it has been emphasised in the seminar that there are other role players in the market that we as South Africans will have to compete against for these opportunities. We are not going to get them on a silver platter,” said the Managing Director of Vuka Africa Consulting Engineers, Ms Reshoketsoe Mamojele.

For the Managing Director of Hape Coal Services, Mr Rhulani Maluleke, the growth in the construction sector and the new mining developments that were pronounced attracted his attention and stimulated his interest.

“There is a new multimillion dollar gold mine development that they mentioned and that potentially presents us with incredible opportunities that we can look at and grab,” added Maluleke.

The Managing Director of the South African Capital Equipment Council, Ms Sybil Rhomberg described opportunities provided by the Peruvian economy as “mind-boggling”.

“The value of the mega projects that this country is rolling out makes the number of opportunities available for businesspeople mind-boggling. There is a multi-billion dollar worth of projects just in the mining sector alone. Now that provides a multiple of opportunities for our companies, except that it is not going to be easy to get them because there are other role players eyeing them,” added Rhomberg.

The Managing Director of an engineering company Bradbri, Mr Felix Tjoane was impressed by the political stability and economic growth that characterise Peru.

“The country’s economic growth and political stability give us confidence to look for investments or joint ventures there. The new mining developments present remarkable opportunities because there is a huge demand for modern mining equipment. We are positive that we can find a market for the capital equipment that we are manufacturing, a distributor or partners for a joint-venture,” stated Tjoane.

The mission is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) with the aim of assisting the country’s manufacturers and exporters open a market for their value-added products and services in Peru and other countries in South America.

Today, the businesspeople will hold individual business-to-business meetings with their Peruvian counterparts to discuss specifics of identified opportunities for trade or investment with the aim of bringing them closer to the level of concrete deals.

Caption: Awe-struck: SA businesspeople Reshoketsoe Mamojele, Thulani Maluleke and Felix Tjoane listening painstakingly to a presentation on opportunities in Peru.

Issued by The Department of Trade and Industry