2013

The Embassy was invited to be the guest speaker at an APME (Portuguese Association for Women Entrepreneurs)seminar which took place in Évora on 31 January 2013. The event is part of the EMMA Project-ALENcrise aimed at focusing on the development of bilateral trade relations and business partnerships with non traditional markets for Portuguese companies. The pre-selected markets were South Africa, Argentina, Canada and Romania.

 Ambassador KST Matthews and Mr. N Sifuba, First Secretary, made a 20 minute presentation to the targeted audience of entrepreneurs on the South African market in general and its business potential.  The current trade & investment opportunities, the major South African economic & business policies, such as BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) and the NGP (New Growth Path) and the implementation of the TDCA (Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement between EU and South Africa) were some of the subjects addressed.Mr. Sifuba participated also in a Q&A session with the attending businesspeople. The workshop was live broadcasted to APME partners in Spain, Italy and United States.

 APME’s mission is to promote and assist the creation and development of business and establishment of companies by women. Established in 1985 with headquarters in Lisbon, the Association engages with the relevant business players, at a national and international level, aiming at (further) promoting the participation of women in the business arena.