Closer trade needed between SA and Netherlands, says Masina
by Wire Staff,
2015-11-18 20:56:53.0
DEPUTY Minister of Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina has encouraged businesspeople from South Africa and the Netherlands to contribute to increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
Masina was delivering a keynote speech at the South Africa-Netherlands Business Forum in Newtown‚ Johannesburg‚ on Wednesday.
The seminar was part of a Dutch trade mission to South Africa that started on Monday with the state visit to SA by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and will continue until Friday.
"The Netherlands has a very long and reputable history as a trading nation and our two countries have continued to grow their trade with each other over the years. Total trade between the two countries amounted to more than R48bn in 2014‚ an increase of 26% compared to 2013‚" Masina said.
But he added there was still room for business people from both countries to work together to contribute meaningfully toward increasing this trade further.
He pointed out the Netherlands was South Africa’s seventh-largest export market in 2014. SA’s exports to the Netherlands grew by 21% last year to reach nearly R33bn.
"The Netherlands is one of very few countries in the European Union with which South Africa enjoys a trade surplus. This also highlights the importance of the Netherlands as a major gateway to the European Union with its highly sophisticated and organised logistics systems and networks. This is of particular importance for our exports of fresh fruits to the EU as the sector is a key contributor to exports as well as job creation‚" emphasised Masina.
He commended the Netherlands for continuing to increase its investments in South Africa. He said the country was an important investor in South Africa‚ occupying the 15th place in terms of foreign investor countries‚ with a total Capex value of more than R15bn.
According to FDI Intelligence figures a total of 25 FDI projects by Dutch firms were recorded over the last six years totalling nearly R6bn and creating about 800 jobs.
"This is highly encouraging and we are confident that FDI from the Netherlands into South Africa will continue to grow and we trust that the visit by Prime Minister Rutte and the business delegation will lead to further investment by Dutch companies in South Africa‚" said Masina.
The Netherlands’ acting vice-minister of logistics and mobility, Mark Frequin, urged business people from SA and his country to take advantage of the strong political and economic relations between the two countries and work together to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
TMG Digital
President Jacob Zuma and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte leave the Union Building in Pretoria on Tuesday. Picture: AFP PHOTO/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA
DEPUTY Minister of Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina has encouraged businesspeople from South Africa and the Netherlands to contribute to increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
Masina was delivering a keynote speech at the South Africa-Netherlands Business Forum in Newtown‚ Johannesburg‚ on Wednesday.
The seminar was part of a Dutch trade mission to South Africa that started on Monday with the state visit to SA by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and will continue until Friday.
"The Netherlands has a very long and reputable history as a trading nation and our two countries have continued to grow their trade with each other over the years. Total trade between the two countries amounted to more than R48bn in 2014‚ an increase of 26% compared to 2013‚" Masina said.
But he added there was still room for business people from both countries to work together to contribute meaningfully toward increasing this trade further.
He pointed out the Netherlands was South Africa’s seventh-largest export market in 2014. SA’s exports to the Netherlands grew by 21% last year to reach nearly R33bn.
"The Netherlands is one of very few countries in the European Union with which South Africa enjoys a trade surplus. This also highlights the importance of the Netherlands as a major gateway to the European Union with its highly sophisticated and organised logistics systems and networks. This is of particular importance for our exports of fresh fruits to the EU as the sector is a key contributor to exports as well as job creation‚" emphasised Masina.
He commended the Netherlands for continuing to increase its investments in South Africa. He said the country was an important investor in South Africa‚ occupying the 15th place in terms of foreign investor countries‚ with a total Capex value of more than R15bn.
According to FDI Intelligence figures a total of 25 FDI projects by Dutch firms were recorded over the last six years totalling nearly R6bn and creating about 800 jobs.
"This is highly encouraging and we are confident that FDI from the Netherlands into South Africa will continue to grow and we trust that the visit by Prime Minister Rutte and the business delegation will lead to further investment by Dutch companies in South Africa‚" said Masina.
The Netherlands’ acting vice-minister of logistics and mobility, Mark Frequin, urged business people from SA and his country to take advantage of the strong political and economic relations between the two countries and work together to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
TMG Digital
Change: -0.09%
Change: -0.09%
Change: -0.36%
Change: 0.49%
Change: -3.31%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: -0.46%
Change: -0.11%
Change: -0.09%
Change: 0.00%
Change: -0.14%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 0.79%
Change: 0.49%
Change: 1.04%
Change: 1.60%
Change: -0.10%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: -0.89%
Change: -1.04%
Change: -0.56%
Change: -4.43%
Change: 0.65%
Data supplied by Profile Data