Growth in Israeli exports to SA Anna Cox THE ISRAEL Trade Centre is putting together a business delegation which will visit South Africa and Mozambique in the first week of September. The delegation is the first official one to visit South Africa in many years. It will include 15 ‘substantial’ Israeli companies from different sectors which are interested in participating in infrastructure and development projects in southern Africa with the co-operation of South African companies of the same nature, Elad Stav, First Secretary of Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Israel’s Trade Centre, told attendees at the annual general meeting of the SA Israel Chamber of Commerce recently. The SA Israel Trade Centre was witnessing a stronger commitment by both government and the trade departments to strengthen and encourage trade ties, he said. There was also a growing awareness and interest by Israeli industry and companies in exploring the potential and opportunities of doing business in South African and the African continent, he said. The latest trade figures were encouraging, he said with the indicators of the first half of 2003 showing that Israeli exports to South Africa increased by 5.5% to US$82 million over the same period last year. In September, Israel will host the Agritech 2003 exhibition in Tel Aviv and will cover every aspect of agriculture and SMME development. “Our plans for next year include continued activities to assist and promote sectors of mutual potential such as telecommunications, agro technology and automotive sectors,” said Stav.
