Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Madagascar Investors Conference that will be hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The Conference will be addressed by His Excellency the President of Madagascar, Mr Hery Rajaonarimampianina.

DATE: 14-15 June 2017
TIME: 10:00
VENUE: Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria, Conference room 2

The Conference is aimed at promoting Madagascar as an investment destination and further profile the country's economic opportunities, particularly the Presidential Priority Projects available in the market that South African investors and Development Finance Institutions can take advantage of.

South Africa remains Madagascar's largest African export market, while Malagasy imports of South African goods accounted for approximately 5.7% of the country's global import basket, reflective of both countries' ability to exploit the natural advantage of geographic proximity. Madagascar's exports to South Africa have seen a steady and consistent growth in the previous five years from R 588 million in 2012 to over R1. 6 billion in 2016.

Both countries are keen to facilitate investments to each other's markets, hence the convening of the Investors' Conference for sharing of investment opportunities in Madagascar with the South Africa private sector.

Members of the media should forward their names and ID/Passport numbers to Tshilidzi Madinani via telephone on 012394 1399/063 580 3992 or e-mail: TMadinani@thedti.gov.za or Patience Mtshali on 012351 0431/ 83 376 9468 mtshalip@dirco.gov.za preferably not later than Tuesday, 13 June 2017 at 13h00. Members of the media are also requested to present their valid press cards at the point of entry to access the venue.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Government Communication and Information.