Trade missions to Ghana, Nigeria a success

South African companies that formed part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (dti) Outward Trade and Investment Mission (OTIM) to Ghana and Nigeria have hailed the trade mission a success.

The two nation OTIM aimed to increase trade and investment between South Africa and the West African countries. The mission also aims to promote bilateral trade and explore investment opportunities.

Lithon Project Consultants was among the 18 companies that participated in the OTIM that started in Ghana on 18 March and then moved to Nigeria.

The company’s Executive Chairman Adriaan Grobler said they received an impressive response from government and businesses and managed to make leads which will be considered.

Grobler said the missions gave his company entry into new markets.

“Firstly I wish to thank the dti for the opportunity granted to our company to participate in this outward selling and investment mission to Ghana and Nigeria. This gave us great entry to new markets, which would have been difficult to do on our own.

“In Ghana four private construction companies requested joint ventures on turnkey projects and discussions are continuing to finalise areas of interest. In Nigeria, companies in the field of market research, oil and gas, mining and construction were interested in partnering on longterm projects,” said Grobler.

Meanwhile, President of the Built Environment Professions Export Council (BEPEC), Cornelis Hugo Korsten, said the council has also made headway.

He said the site visit to the Meridian Port Service (MPS) Tema port expansion project in Ghana stood out for him. During that site visit, the delegation learnt about the state of the ports and rail infrastructure and upgrades that will be undertaken at the site.

Korsten said the port expansion project presented opportunities for South African businesses, adding that there was a lot they could do for the Tema port to be revived.

“We will encourage our members to get involved in Ghana and Nigeria because for the continent to succeed globally, we have to improve infrastructure. Africa is endowed with resources and the best way to move these resources is through improved infrastructure networks across the region to fully exploit our economic potential,” said Korsten.