Pretoria - Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (dti) Elizabeth Thabethe is to lead a delegation of South African crafters to the third International Handicrafts Exhibition in Cameroon.
Handicrafts exhibitors will showcase their products and services at the Central African Market from 23 January to 3 February 2012.
The delegation will include cooperatives that are funded by the department, including the Limpopo-based Hi Hlurile Cooperative which consists of 27 members producing handmade beads and Gauteng's Imfundiso Skills Development Training Institute, which produces high-end jewellery and offers learners technical skills in jewellery designing.
The exhibition will also offer an opportunity for an exchange of skills by participating crafters.
The Deputy Minister said interactions between Cameroon and South Africa were maturing and this must be deepened through joint ventures and high impact investments. "Part of our reasons for attending this handicrafts exhibition is to further strengthen ties between the countries and allow our exhibitors to take advantage of trade agreements that may arise," she said.
There will be meetings held at a bilateral level to finalise technical cooperation arrangements in SME development, industrial research and technology transfer, agriculture and agro-processing, mining and tourism.
The meetings will also finalise modalities on the establishment of the Joint Trade and Investment Committee, Thabethe explained.
Thabethe led a business delegation to Cameroon in January last year, which focused on infrastructure, energy, agro-processing and manufacturing. She also visited the country in December.
According to the department, a 'South Africa day' is planned for 24 January focusing on the opening of the South Africa exhibition as well as deliberation on areas for mutual co-operation.
