SA businesses happy with progress of Angolan trade and investment mission

JOHANNESBURG – The South African business people participating in a
5-day trade and investment mission to Angola, where Deputy Minister
Magwanishe is leading a business delegation comprising 20 members are
pleased with the progress so far. 

The businesspeople, whose participation has been funded
by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), expressed
satisfaction with the exposure and reception that they have been
receiving since the mission started on Monday, 16 July 2018. They have
even expressed confidence in securing a noticeable amount of deals on
their return.

The Chief Executive Officer of Rail Roads Association,
Ms Mesela Nhlapo says the association is looking for trade, investments
and partnership opportunities in the rail space. She says the
association whose main purpose is to promote and protect the common
purpose of persons, companies and organisations within or associated
with the railway industry, has managed to secure good leads. 

“We managed to meet with the biggest railway company
that needs a wide range of assistance from the railway safety regulators
to spare parts, new locomotives and refurbishment of locomotives. As a
result, we will bring a technical delegation in two weeks from different
sub-sectors of the industry and we are already quoting on some
components. We are motivated by the immense business opportunities in
this space,” says Nhlapo.

According to the Business Development Manager of Reelin
Bearings, a manufacture of railway bearings and other products, Mr
Mervyn Chetty, the mission has started producing positive results for
the company. He says that they were received well by the Angolan
businesspeople, particularly captains of industries, whom he says are
interested in working and forming partnerships with the South African
businesses. 

“I had meetings at the railway headquarters and they
were enthusiastic about my companies’ offerings. We have a couple of
good leads that we will follow up on. We are looking forward to access
the opportunities they have in the industry as they look into
integrating into Southern African Development Community (SADC). We will
be submitting quotations on traction motors for locomotives and I am
confident that Angola will be our first export market as we are looking
to expand to SADC,” pronounced Chetty.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Bulelani
Magwanishe who led the business delegation to a site visit at Luanda
Rail said the visit was essential to discover information about the 27
stations that are planned for the 425 km route from Luanda to Malange,
and other opportunities. The visit provided an opportunity to see how
the South African businesses in the built and construction sectors can
access the opportunities.  

Magwanishe assured the Chief Executive Officer of Luanda
Railway, Dr Julio Bango Joaquim that South Africa was positioned to
offer competitive services in the engineering, technology and port
management to Angola if given the opportunity.

In response to Deputy Minister Magwanishe’s assurance,
the Chief Executive Officer of Luanda Railway, Dr Julio Bango Joaquim
said they were facing challenges in the rail sector and appealed to the
South African businesses to join hands and work with them in addressing
these challenges. 

“The doors are open for the South African businesses. We
want to work with you. Some of the opportunities available are
rehabilitation and maintenance of equipment, rolling stock in great
numbers, training and transfer of skills in engineering and mechanics,
amongst other,” said Dr Joaquim