Nine South Africa firms in trade exhibition

Nine South African-based companies operating in the country on Thursday showcased their products and services in Lilongwe in an exhibition dubbed Brand South Africa.

According to South Africa’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Thenjiwe Mtintso, the initiative is aimed at enhancing trade between Malawi and South Africa.

She said the exhibition was part of celebrating Nelson Mandela’s idea of creating a better and prosperous Africa through trade partnerships.

Mtintso emphasised that Malawi remains one of South Africa’s important partners in the region as reflected in the good trade and investment relations between the two countries.

“South Africa has over the last few years become the biggest trade partner for Malawi. The exhibition is another platform where we could further strengthen the already robust economic relations between our two countries,” Mtintso said.

Minister of Industry, Trade and tourism, Henry Mussa, said such exhibitions are welcome as they signify the cordial trade relations between Malawi and South Africa.

Mussa said such exhibitions give a chance to Malawian businesses to learn from their South African counterparts.

Chief Executive of Standard Bank, one of the companies that participated in the exhibition, William Le Roux, expressed gratitude, stressing that the initiative helps the bank to increase its visibility in the country and raise awareness on its products and services.

“South African companies have been investing in Malawi since 1994 and the brand equity of South African companies has been steadily growing. It is very important to us, as Standard Bank, and we hope that this will continue,” Le Roux said.