Herewith an update in response to recent requests for information about what is happening with the SA-MN Business Council. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you want me to share any additional info with the Council participants.
Recent Council Events
Neville Matjie, General Manager of Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal, hosted an executive breakfast for MN-SA Business Council members on July 24, 2007. Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal is the host and organizer of the first South African International Trade & Investment Conference and Exhibition to be held at the International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa on October 29-31st, 2007. The SA Consul General in Chicago was co-host for the event and was represented by Charles Manuel the Economic Consul in the Chicago office.
The breakfast was attended by more than 40 individuals including investors, bankers, entrepreneurs, business executives, government representatives, academics and students.
Neville offered to customize your experience when you visit the conference, if you let him know in advance of your travel plans. He can be contacted directly at - neville@tikzn.co.za, or mobile telephone +27.83.287.2399.
Upcoming Events
Instead of arranging separate events for the Council in September and October we decided to support a couple of local events that are already planned and that complement our own objectives. We will continue this practice in the future when the opportunity presents itself.
Doing Business in South Africa Seminar, September 25
The Minnesota Trade Office is proud to announce a seminar "Doing Business in South Africa" on Tuesday, September 25. For complete details, go to http://www.exportminnesota.com/PDFs/SouthAfrica9_07.pdf.
The seminar will be held at the offices of Oppenheimer Wolff and Donnelly, Plaza VII, Ste. 3300, 45 So. 7th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402 and will start at 1:30pm to 5:00pm.
To register, complete the registration form and fax it to the MTO, or provide registration details via e-mail reply to Mto.Edu@state.mn.us.
Questions about the seminar can be directed to Jennifer Kocs at 651.259.7488.
Pan African Trade and Investment Summit – October 4 and 5 at the Humphrey Institute
A group of local immigrants from Africa are leading the charge to organize a Pan African Trade and Investment Summit for October 4 and 5, 2007. This event promises to be a first in Minnesota that introduces the African continent as an emerging market in the global economy. Gov Tim Pawlenty has been invited to deliver the keynote address and delegates from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, US Department of Commerce and the University of MN will appear as speakers at the event.
Full conference registration is only $200 including a networking reception on the evening of the first day. Opportunities for corporate sponsorships and attending an African Diaspora dinner on the second night of the event are also available. It is expected that the event will receive a good deal of local radio and TV coverage making it an excellent opportunity to be associated with the emergence of Africa on the global economic stage.
Mr. Joash Maangi, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee can be contacted at jmaangi@abcgroupllc.com, or on his mobile 952.697.3690.
2007 US-Africa Business Summit, November 14 to 16 in Cape Town, South Africa
Industry Experts Predict that Summit will Bring the Largest, Simultaneous Delegation of U.S. Business Leaders to Africa in History
U.S. Secretary of State Says Summit is an Important Opportunity for U.S. and African Political, Business, and Civil Society Leaders to Work Together to Address Development Challenges
Washington, D.C. (August 8, 2007)—The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), with the support of leading U.S. corporations, African businesses, and global leaders from the private and public sectors, will host its 2007 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, November 14-16, 2007.
Hosted every two years, this is CCA’s sixth Summit, but the first-ever to be held in Africa. More than 1,500 participants are expected to attend.
To find out more about the upcoming Summit visit www.africacncl.org.
Contact: Adina Ellis, CCA, (202) 263-3522 or aellis@africacncl.org
Council Member Events and Special Offers
Wine and Dine River Cruise on the St Croix – Bob Marx, Founder and CEO of MT Global Wines
Ahoy everyone!! For those of you who haven't heard yet, we are doing a Wine & Dine River Cruise on Sept. 28 and will feature David Frost Wines. David is flying in for this event and is looking forward to seeing everyone! Cities 97 decided this looked like so much fun, they’re coming on board, which means it’s sure to be a sell out!! Get your tickets early!! For those of you coming in from out of town....join us after the cruise at www.aftonhouseinn.com (get a room) where David, myself and others will continue the festivities! If you have never been on the St. Croix River this time of year.....you're missing out!! Reserve tickets at www.frostwines.com and click on link for Wine & Dine Dinner Cruise. See you there!!
Bob Marx - rmarx@mtglobalwines.com or on his mobile 651.247.3267
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS INVITES TRAVELERS TO
“FALL INTO SPRING” WITH INCREDIBLE FARES
Fares Start as Low as $927 Round Trip
South African Airways (SAA), voted “Leading Airline to Africa” by World Travel Awards, invites travelers to “Fall into Spring” with incredibly low fares for travel from New York or Washington, D.C., to South Africa during the fall and spring months. Fares start as low as $927 round trip, excluding taxes, on flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London, and require a 5-day minimum stay, with a 30-day maximum stay. The fares are for travel dates commencing Oct. 11 to Dec. 11, and Jan. 20 to March 31, must be booked by Aug. 31, 2007, and purchased at www.flysaa.com or 1-800-722-9675. Low fares also are available for travel from many points in the U.S. to selected points throughout Southern Africa.
“While we enter into our fall months here in North America, in South Africa the flowers are blossoming and the “Big Five” are out and about as the region wakes up from winter and experiences spring fever,” said Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president, North America for South African Airways. “With these incredible fares, we invite travelers to join in the spring celebration in Southern Africa, or to visit during the Southern fall months, to experience the many wonders of this destination.”
Travelers can be the first to hear of future SAA specials and promotions by signing up for SAA’s newsletter at www.flysaa.com.
In the News
The links below are to a variety of interesting articles that crossed my desk in recent weeks.
Chinese delegation propose a project to create a tax-free zone in Botswana- http://allafrica.com/stories/200708210097.html
Productivity a top corporate issue -http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2007/0708210850.asp?A=MAW&S=Mobile%20and%20Wireless%20Technology&O=FPIN
Govt to drive ICT usage- http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2007/0708211049.asp?S=IT%20in%20Government&A=ITG&O=FPTOP
Government will increase its ICT usage at national, provincial and local level as a means of improving public service delivery. This will be achieved through the implementation of its information society and development plan in the next several months, says deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Projects
We would like to share any successful projects in South Africa that our Council participants are involved in. Please let us know if you have any projects to share.
We started a blog site at http://za-mn.blogspot.com/ where we share information and post a calendar of events. If you have participated in any of the SA-MN Business Council events, you are welcome to submit appropriate content for the blog. Please contact Jennifer Kocs at the MTO with your content 651.259.7488.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
SA-MN Council Update – Fall 2007
Big deal for newbies - http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=316985&area=/insight/insight__economy__business/ Call centres have been identified as potential areas of interest for foreign investors. Government has negotiated special, cut-rate deals through Telkom for large foreign investors in South Africa's business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
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