Themba Gadebe
20 March 2006
Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa has called on business people in South Africa and Qatar to forge closer working relations and explore investment opportunities in both countries.
He was addressing a trade and investment seminar in Qatar during a visit to the Middle East last week. Mpahlwa also visited Omar and Saudi Arabia.
At the seminar, a memorandum of understanding between Chambers of Commerce South Africa (Chamsa) and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry was signed.
Mpahlwa also held talks with Qatar's minister of economy and commerce, Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Jassem Al Thani.
Joint Economic Commission
In Saudi Arabia, Mpahlwa attended the second session of the South Africa-Saudi joint economic commission.
Mpahlwa and his Saudi counterpart, Hashim Yamani, issued a joint communiqué at the end of the sitting of the commission.
The two countries have formed three sub-committees aimed at ensuring that agreements reached during the sitting of the commission were implemented.
South African delegation
In the Sultanate State of Oman, Mpahlwa held talks with that country's ministers of oil and gas, commerce and industry, transport and telecommunications, defence and foreign affairs.
The minister was accompanied by a South African delegation comprising representatives from the departments of education, defence, environmental affairs and tourism and minerals and energy, as well as Chamsa.
Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George also accompanied him.
Source: BuaNews
