Pursuing investment growth
The Free State’s Global Investors Trade Bridge has proved a profound way to strengthen international partnerships through investment in these and many other projects in the province.
Delegates from 26 countries attended the briefings and networking sessions; some were also exhibitors at the expo. The trade bridge did not just start and end with the three programme days. Further networking included meetings, excursions, factory and company visits and optional business trips to different parts of the Free State.
A top priority was to facilitate the effective implementation of the various agreements and MOUs already signed between the Free State Province and various countries to unlock trade and investment opportunities, forge new relationships and form business linkages with key players and decision-makers in various sectors.
Specific sectors targeted as part of the initiative included tourism and investment, solar energy, manufacturing, agro-processing and value chain integration, mining and mineral beneficiation, infrastructure investment plans, information and communication technology and education.
Dignitaries attending the trade bridge included international ambassadors and high commis- sioners, as well as leading business players, MECs and mayors from across the province.
Prior to the event, out of the relations with 26 countries, 33 agreements have been successfully outlined.
Sam Mashinini, MEC for Economic Development, Small Business and Environmental Affairs, in closing the event commended Premier Ace Magashule, saying that his efforts and foresight of the dynamics at play made it possible for the Free State to “stand tall, as we equally extend our gratitude to our guests, both international and local South African delegates”.
“The value of this very first trade bridge reflects the overpowering interest by the provincial government in the future of our provincial economy and the intended influence through international business partnerships.
“Similarly, a concerted effort is provided by the provincial government to ensure that our local businesses find space to infiltrate and participate in the global market system, a market that was brought to our Free State SMMEs under a single roof for three consecutive days.
“This inaugural event is a summit which reflects the momentum that the Free State provincial government has been building to facilitate local and international business interaction this year through various missions.
“The success from this event has been the active and increased participation in this event by our SMMEs and we have hosted 120 exhibitors in the Arts and Crafts market as well as an additional 300 exhibitors from various sectors.
“From the electronic matchmaking registration lines, 120 match-making calls were achieved, 44 meetings took place during the two days, and partnerships have been formed across various sectors. The attendance of business people was more than anticipated, with more than 1 200 delegates per day,” said the MEC.
“Our concluding objective will be to follow up on these 44 meetings to ascertain whether we are able to support any partnerships in the future and outline them in our programmes for radical economic transformation.
“We are in a position already to announce that Russia is ready to partner with us on further exploration of investment opportunities in agro-processing and an educational exchange programme. Germany is ready to work with us on [a] mining revitalisation programme in Matjhabeng, while our intention to upscale co-operatives has also received a major boost and buy-in from India and Spain, [who] will also come on board in terms of renewable energy, tourism and agro-processing investments.
“We have already been invited to the 2016 Renewable Energy Summit, which Spain will be hosting.
“Moving forward, the Free State province’s commitment to grow the economy and to create employment for our clientele — the people of this province — remains unflinching. We look forward to sustaining every single agreement which accrued from this event,” concluded Mashinini.