Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN), will be heading towards Angola from 26 - 30 September 2011 on a trade mission along with approximately 10 KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) based companies who are keen to gain business linkages in Luanda and Benguela. The delegation will be led by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). These businesses hail from the construction, civil engineering, retail, information communication technology, clearing and forwarding sectors.

This particular trade mission will enable the KZN companies to establish trade opportunities that currently exist, as well as successfully initiate markets for individual companies in Angola, establish trade-business linkages for the KZN exporters, identify product opportunities and successfully profile Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal in this market. The delegation will attend a business forum in Angola as well as Business to Business networking meetings.

The government of Angola have been keen on diversifying its economy and encourage trade and private investment in the non Oil & Gas sector. The government is making significant efforts to rebuild the country's infrastructure and drive forward development.

"The government and Angolan companies are keen to do business with South Africa, evident during the successful first bilateral state visit that President Jacob Zuma had undertaken 2009, when an MOU on Trade Co-operation between the two countries were signed" said Zamo Gwala, CEO, Trade & Investment KZN.

He went on to say, "Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal participated in mission led by the Premier Mkhize to the State of Benguela where a general framework for cooperation between the provinces was established".

For further information about TIKZN and its involvement with trade into Africa, please contact Mr Claude Jerome Pretorius, Destination Marketing Manager, Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal on Mobile no: 082 460 4979 or email claude@tikzn.co.za . Alternatively you can visit our website at www.tikzn.co.za