The business people expressed their fulfilment with the level of exposure and outcomes the mission provided, the DTI said in a statement on Saturday.

They added that the mission had presented them with an opportunity to understand the Angolan market, discover trade and investment opportunities, and engage with their Angolan counterparts.

Business development manager for Africa at Burncrete, Saalim Jallal, said the company was thrilled to be part of the mission to explore the trade and investment prospects and to source new business partners for their steel manufacturing company.

“My trip to Angola was successful. I managed to score a business deal with Macsteel after meeting with their general manager. The company will be buying steel materials from us,” said Jallal.

Johannes Mpotu of Aberdare Cables, an electrical and power cables manufacturer from Johannesburg, described the mission as fruitful. He indicated that his company had received an order and would submit quotations in the next few days.

“For us, this was a fact-finding mission and we are happy about the outcomes and how everything unfolded from the first day when we started with the seminar and business-to-business meetings. Going back home with trade leads and proposals is a sign that Angola has plenty of opportunities that can be explored going forward,” Mpotu said.

Bridge of Hope Wines CEO Rosemary Mosia, from Cape Town, was also pleased with the openings the mission produced. “My reflection of the trip will be that Angola has a wide range of opportunities and we must embrace them. In my case I managed to meet with five companies.

"I have already provided them with quotations. I am hopeful something will materialise in the next month or two. What I am more excited about is that the Angolan wine market is now shifting away from Europe and setting their sight on South African companies to provide quality locally factory-made wine which is a major boost for us,” Mosia said.

ANA