New programme launched to attract foreign investors

the Johanesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Intaprise Capital and Trade have launched a new joint programme to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) into South Africa. The aim is to create marriages of various local companies to make them more attractive for foreign investors and eventually allow them to compete on a global level. The programme has therefore been developed as a long-term sustainable model. According to Paul Bennett Bishop, managing director of Intaprise, they will be using the global awareness of 2010 to position South Africa as a desirable investment destination. He quotes a recent example of what the programme is aiming to achieve: “In a recent deal we concluded with an Italian tour operator, the Italian company will market selected high-end bush and sea resort experiences from South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia into the Italian market. Over 2 000 visitors are expected to be generated through this agreement with a total market value of R120 million. We are also in discussions with similar partners in Holland and Germany, where similar numbers are expected, which will push up the total market value of the project to R360 million.” “This is an exciting development which will enable us to increase our tourism related investment developments. We are hoping to raise around R150 million for specialised tourism developments in the southern African region,” Bishop concludes.