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EDC Meeting Promotes Cooperation 
Between Dubai and South Africa

DUBAI - The Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC) met with a delegation from South Africa to explore bilateral trade opportunities between the emirate of Dubai and the Province of Gauteng.

The South African delegation was led by Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, the South African Consul General and Blake Mosley-Lefatola, CEO of the Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA) and included several other high ranking Gauteng officials.

The focus of the meeting, hosted by Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of EDC at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, was the development and promotion of bilateral trade opportunities between the two regions.

Discussions centred on the organisation of joint promotional trade activities and the sharing of information that can be positively used to grow the economies of the two regions.

“EDC is working to expand trade opportunities with many markets, including that of South Africa, which presents significant export opportunities for Dubai based businesses.” said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Export Development Corporation.

“The Province of Gauteng is considered to be South Africa’s commercial hub, generating over a third of South Africa’s GDP, and hosting the headquarters of most of the country’s major state, academic, research, mining, financial and commercial institutions.

Similarly to the EDC, GEDA is committed to working to further strengthen trade ties between the two strong sister economic regions.” said Blake Mosley-Lefatola, CEO of the Gauteng Economic Development Agency.

Exports from the UAE to South Africa reached Dh2.3 billion in 2007 whilst exports from South Africa to the UAE reached almost Dh2.7 billion in the same period.

The discussions with South Africa are part of a broader campaign by EDC to develop and enhance trade relationships with countries across the world.

In conducting these discussions, EDC is working to uncover investment opportunities that will benefit both economies involved in the trade process.

business@khaleejtimes.com