The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa visited BCCI

Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, visited BCCI and participated in a virtual meeting with representatives of Bulgarian companies working in the field of information technologies. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa in Sofia H.E. Thabo Thage also took part in the meeting.

The President of the Chamber Tsvetan Simeonov emphasized the good joint work of the chambers from both countries to establish contacts between interested companies and to develop trade and investment processes between them.

Alvin Botes stated that the Republic of South Africa, as a country with the most advanced and modernized economy in Africa, is a door for Bulgarian goods and services to the entire African continent.

The South African economy maintains stable growth, with inflation not exceeding 3-6% for the last three years. South Africa is both the largest importer and exporter on the African continent. In connection with the Green Deal, Botes offered Bulgarian companies working in the field of renewable energy to cooperate with partners from South Africa, which, like Bulgaria, is heavily dependent on minerals to meet its energy needs.

Another very promising sector for cooperation between companies from the two countries is the automotive industry. The country is a member of the African Union, which is also a prerequisite for Bulgarian companies to enter the African market and use a number of advantages when trading with other member states of the Union.

H.E. Thabo Thage, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa in Sofia also greeted the participants and reaffirmed the Embassy’s readiness to continue to provide assistance in the organization of business delegations, meetings and other useful bilateral initiatives.