/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe says South Africa and Turkey need to make a concerted effort to increase the less than impressive trade volumes that exist between the two economies. Thabethe was addressing businesspeople at a seminar that was hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in Ankara, Turkey on Friday, 29 November. .
 
The seminar was part of the Outward Selling and Investment mission to promote trade and investment opportunities between South Africa and Turkey.
 
“Both South Africa and Turkey are key economies in their sub-regions. With Turkey’s experience in machinery, textiles and construction, it is my beliefs that we can fuse our complementary differences together in order to double or even triple our current trade volumes,” said Thabethe.
 
South African Ambassador to Turkey, Mr Vika Khumalo said the mission gave South African businesspeople an opportunity to engage more with their Turkish counterparts.
 
“The one-on-one meetings we had facilitated for the delegates ensured that they were matched with ideal potential partners in their sectors. The feedback we received so far from local businesses starting with the Istanbul leg, has been that these were good meetings and some of them are excited about the possibilities that they have been able to find. Equally so our South African business delegation are excited at the prospect of joint projects that would emerge from today’s discussions. We think that after they have returned to South Africa they will be able to focus on this,” said Khumalo.
 
 
Khumalo told the delegates that the embassy will continue to play its part to facilitate some of these meetings and discussions, and possible future visits between the parties involved. He added that there should be follow-ups by Turkish entrepreneurs to South Africa so they are able to explore what is possible with their potential future partners whom they have identified,” he indicated.
 
Deputy Minister Thabethe also visited the Ostim Industrial Development Zone (IDZ). She said that South Africa can learn from the Turkish model.
 
“The Turkish model of IDZ seems to be working well and we could use some of the good practices of the model as the bench-mark for the Specific Economic Zones we recently launched. If it works for them it will certainly work for us. Their infrastructure development seems to be a key to their success as every time I visit I am met by new developments,” added Thabethe.
 
Thabethe urged Turkish business delegates to pursue doing business with South African companies and to always make sure they involve the embassy in their pursuit as they are the people with valuable expertise on such matters.