On 25 April the dti issued a press release in which the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe said Zimbabwe presented a developing market for a wide range of South African goods and services such as retail, food and beverages, construction, agro-processing, chemicals, mining, banking, medical services and hotels. Deputy Minister Thabethe was speaking at the official opening of the South African stand at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo. “South Africa is strategically placed to do business with Zimbabwe in these sectors. I’m urging South African businesses to take advantage of the opportunities available in these sectors and invest in them as this will contribute to the growth of the Zimbabwean economy,” said Thabethe. Thabethe complimented Zimbabwe for launching the industrial and trade policies recently, adding that these would facilitate and guide the country’s economic growth. “South Africa’s economy is inextricably linked to those of other African countries and we have a strong interest in promoting higher levels of industrialisation and regional economic integration on the continent,” said Thabethe. “She announced that there were a number of key activities that the Department of Trade and Industry was planning in order to further strengthen economic relations over the next few years, including embarking on fac- finding visits to other key regions, provinces and cities in Zimbabwe to promote proudly South African products and technology, identifying potential markets for products that are not being targeted or marketed by South African companies as yet, as well as to identify investment projects for South Africa companies,” said Thabethe. Speaking at the same event, the South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vusi Mavimbela, said the presence of regional and international exhibitors was evidence that Zimbabwe was a good investment destination.