Dear Sir/Madam INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRADE AND INVESTMENT MISSION TO CAMEROON AND GABON FROM 01-10 OCTOBER 2012

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) invites you to join the business delegation during the Trade and Investment Mission to Cameroon and Gabon from 01 10 October 2012. The mission will be led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Honourable Elizabeth Thabethe. This mission is a continuation of government to government initiative to deepen economic relations between South Africa Cameroon and Gabon. With an estimated population of 18 million people, Cameroon is a strategic country in the Central Africa region that is endowed with abundant economic opportunities in infrastructure development, agriculture, forestry, timber, tourism, energy, oil and gas, and mineral resources. Cameroon is the largest economy in the sub-region and a gateway in terms of the trade into the neighbouring landlocked Central African region. This market offers a variety of opportunities for South African private sector, keen on doing business with Cameroon and possible expansion to Central Africa region. The steady growth of the Cameroon economy, its expansion into non-traditional areas of agriculture, retail, financial services, energy, infrastructure and construction, all present numerous business opportunities. The

governments of South Africa and Cameroon signed the General Cooperation Agreement, the Bilateral Trade Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on Economic Cooperation in September 2006. In January 2011, Deputy Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, Honourable Elizabeth Thabethe led a business mission to Cameroon. During this visit trade and investment opportunities with specific projects were presented to the South African delegation for consideration. The discussions indicated that there is enormous space to increase trade and investments between the two countries. Recently, the dti officials had engagements with the Cameroonian government and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development in particular and there has been a strong indication on the need to undertake a more project based business mission to Cameroon.

Gabon is a country rich in natural resources such as oil and timber. In fact, vast economic opportunities exist for the commercial exploitation of such and other resources. Wood processing and treatment, oil and petroleum processing and related manufacturing, fish

processing and packaging, and agricultural development are amongst some of the very lucrative opportunities for the South African private sector. Our engagement in 2011 recommended that a business delegation be dispatched to explore the economic opportunities that are prevalent in Gabon.

The mission will involve a business programme comprising of Business Seminars and Business to Business meetings in both cities in Cameroon and Gabon. This opportunity will also be a step further in creating market penetration platform for South African value added products and services in Cameroon and in Gabon, and to promote South Africa as a potential economic partner.

Should your company be interested please RSVP to the following people:

Ms Nompumelelo Hlela Central and East Africa Desk Tel: +27 (0) 12 394 1916 Tel: +27 (0) 12 394 29160 E-mail: nhlela@thedti.gov.za

Mr Mncedisi Madela Central and East Africa Desk Tel: +27 (0) 12 394 1342 Fax +27 (0) 12 394 0114/7 E-mail: mmadela@thedti.gov.za