SA, Brazil cement business ties
Mahlatsi Mgidi
2 September 2004
A delegation from Brazil has arrived in South Africa for a five-day conference that will showcase South Africa as a preferred country with which to do business.
The conference, which started on Thursday at Sun City, North West, will include a bilateral business seminar aimed at exploring mutual areas for investment opportunities.
The seminar will be hosted by Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa.
Over 200 Brazil's influential corporate leaders and key decision makers including Minister of Development Luiz Furlan, are attending the conference.
The meeting forms part of the activities by the LLDE Group of Business Leaders that comprises 414 chief executives of leading Brazilian companies. The companies jointly contribute 35 percent of that country's gross domestic product.
South African Tourism, the departments of Arts and Culture and Foreign Affairs, as well as the North West government are co-hosting the
conference.
For its part, the SA Tourism said it had pulled out all the stops to use this opportunity to showcase South Africa to the Brazilians.
"Our country offers a wealth of diverse, authentic experiences for both leisure and business travel," said chief executive Cheryl Carolus.
She said in line with her organisation's new brand positioning, it was important that visitors experienced some of the "awesome wonders that represent the heart and soul of our groundbreaking nation".
Meanwhile, Brazilian soccer legend Pele will speak at the bilateral business seminar and also play a celebrity role at a soccer charity match to be played at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace next Tuesday.
A gala evening has also been organised to ensure that the Brazilian delegation is absorbed in what South Africa can offer.
Source: BuaNews
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