OREANDA-NEWS. The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has hosted a meeting with a delegation of African National Congress, South Africa’s ruling party.

The participants in the meeting included Vice-President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce Georgy Petrov, South African Ambassador to Russia Mandis Mpahlwa, Chairman of the Russia-South Africa Business Council Vladimir Kremer, ANC’s Treasurer-General Zweli Mkhize, Deputy Minister in the Administration of the President of the Republic of South Africa Obed Bapela, and representatives of the Russian and South African business communities.

In his opening speech Georgy Petrov said that a visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg by such a high-ranking delegation of South Africa testified to the Republic’s strive to cement trade and other economic ties with Russia. Relations between Russia and South Africa have intensified in recent years. Bilateral trade amounted to about USD 1bln in 2012. However, this level of bilateral ties is far from reflecting the full potential of economic cooperation, Georgy Petrov said. The two countries plan to follow a specific cooperation agenda as a large number of Russian companies, including Renova Group, participate in a number of joint projects thereby promoting investment cooperation and laying a foundation for sustainable economic ties for years ahead.

The role of the Russia-South Africa Business Council is impossible to overestimate as it establishes ties with new partners and launches far-reaching projects. Georgy Petrov deems 2013 a special year as South Africa is presiding in the BRICS group in 2013. BRICS leaders have adopted a number of strategic solutions, including the establishment of the BRICS Business Council. The Russian Chamber of Commerce’s President Sergey Katyrin has been appointed Head of the Russian section of the BRICS Business Council, Petrov underscored. The BRICS Business Council, where South Africa is holding the rotating presidency, is beginning to play a crucial role in the development of economic ties among the BRICS countries, the Vice-President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce said.

During his address to the participants in the meeting South African Ambassador to Russia Mandis Mpahlwa underscored that even though relations between the two countries had been progressing for years, the cooperation potential is far from used up. The two countries have a lot to work on, Mandis Mpahlwa said.

Further Russian-South African relations was spoken of at length by Chairman of the Russia-South Africa Business Council Vladimir Kremer, who attached particular importance to the development of business contacts with South Africa.

As business ties between Russia and South Africa intensify, bilateral trade increases. The volume of Russian exports in South Africa increased by 77 percent in 2012. According to Vladimir Kremer, bilateral trade could hit USD 2bln by 2015.

Vladimir Kremer also spoke about the 8-year experience of Renova Group in South Africa. Renova is cooperating with regional authorities and is keen on social responsibility. The Group has built a personnel training center in South Africa, Vladimir Kremer said. As for the Russia-South Africa Business Council, it will continue to cement bilateral business contacts, particularly among small and medium-size businesses.

As he addressed the participants in the meeting, ANC’s Treasurer-General Zweli Mkhize put special emphasis on the areas of cooperation that require joint efforts. These include investment, tourism, the processing industry, innovation technology, green and nuclear energy, personnel training.

Deputy Minister in the Administration of the South African president Obed Bapela said that it was vital to make a good use of the cooperation achievements that the two countries have made in recent years. Many Russian companies are demonstrating interest in the South African market and are ready to invest in joint projects. Other African countries are looking to benefit from cooperation with the BRICS Group, Obed Bapela said. Bapela urged Russian entrepreneurs to step up their investments in the South African economy given a development plan of the South African Republic that covers a wide range of areas, including infrastructure, the mining industry, transport, telecommunications, and the farming sector.

Other speakers at the meeting included Chairman of the Agriculture Section of the Russia-South Africa Business Council Mikhail Fateyev, President of the African branch of the Renova Group Konstantin Sadovnikov, Director of the Department of Legal Policy and Skolkovo Public Foundation Alexey Ivanov, Managing Director for Capital Markets and Investors at Kortos Georgy Iosifyan. The spoke at length about their work in Africa and submitted a number of cooperation proposals.

Members of the South African delegation and their Russian counterparts exchanged opinions on a wide range of trade and economic cooperation options, including training of South African students and industry experts in Russia.