ED RICHARDSON OPPORTUNITIES IN the Middle Eastern region are being opened up. Earlier this year, South Africa and Oman signed an agreement to promote trade and technical cooperation, paving the way for further growth following a recent spurt in trade between the two countries. “We must do more in terms of trade and increasing investment,” Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said at the signing of the agreement, adding that trade between the countries had recently experienced “unprecedented growth.” Total trade between South Africa and Oman was valued at R1.6-billion in July 2006, up from R123-million in 2003. SA exports to Oman stood at R180-million in 2005, while imports from the gulf state totalled R792-million. “This in itself represents a 61% growth in exports and 151% growth in imports from the trading year 2003,” Mpahlwa said.
