South Africa is committed to ensure that regional Integration and intra-Africa trade materialise and are not things that people only pay lip service to. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe during her site visit to the Maluku Special Economic Zone  in the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday.

The site visit was part of the International Trade Initiative that Deputy Minister Thabethe is leading to the DRC from 16-21 September 2013.

Thabethe told investors and the Congolese delegation that part of the reason for the visit was to get South African investors to come and explore the opportunities that the SEZ will be offering, with the possibility of working in partnership with the local businesspeople.

“We are committed to work with the people of the DRC in developing the economy of this country, making sure that there is skills and technology transfer. Back home we are also working on our own plan to establish special economic zones which will build on our industrial development zones. We will not only share the experience and exchange ideas with our Congolese counterparts but we are also encouraging our businesspeople to come and invest in this SEZ,” said Thabethe.

The Minister of Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises in the DRC, Mr Remy Musungayi, who toured the zone with Thabethe, said South African companies were welcome to participate in the Maluku SEZ which will be offering unlimited opportunities for investment.

“Our government is encouraging investment in the country. This is our first SEZ and it will provide access to land, infrastructure and a conducive business environment to national and international investors,’’ added Musungayi.

“The site is approximately 250 hectares big. It is located next to the Congo River, which allows access to the vast interior of the country and it has a potential for developing into an agri-business hub for central Africa,” added Musungayi.