Johannesburg - South Africa should be used as a gateway into
Africa so it can create business links and opportunities for the continent, the
country's ambassador to Russia has said.
"South Africa is the largest trading economy in Africa
and contains 25% outputs of all Africa's economies and (is) also one of the
active and strongest players in the continent," Mandisi Mpahlwa said on
Tuesday, according to a statement from the trade and industry department.
"It is therefore important that trading partners,
especially Russia and neighbouring countries, expand their export footprint
through our formal structures."
Mpahlwa had addressed delegates at the Investment and Trade
Initiative (ITI) in Moscow, Russia. The ITI introduces local firms to the
Russian market with the aim of helping South Africa's new and existing
exporters enter the market.
Mpahlwa said business forums were important for both South
Africa and Russia.
"These and other formal forums such as Brics (Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa) will lead our work and increase trade
between the two countries."
Moloko Leshaba, director for Europe, bilateral relations
within the trade and industry department, said Russia and South Africa had good
economic relations.
"Each country is boasting technological and industrial
capabilities that present opportunities and cooperation for the companies
taking part in the ITI. This will foster closer linkages and trade
opportunities for businesses," he said.
Russia is the world's seventh-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product and the sixth-largest by purchasing power parity. It is also South Africa's 41st export destination.