Source: http://worldcityweb.com/home/MIA/publications/magazine/42/793/

Want to Trade?

by WC

There was a time when the rally cry in South Africa was “Free Nelson Mandela” rather than free trade.

But all that has changed in the 17 years since authorities released the former dissident who served as president from 1994 to 1999.

South Florida is now looking to hook up with South Africa. A trade mission organized by Miami-Dade County’s Jay Malina International Trade Consortium is to visit Johannesburg and Cape Town April 15-26.

Travel and tourism will be top among talking topics, said the consortium’s executive direct J. A. “Tony” Ojeda, Jr. A representative from Miami International Airport will reinvestigate the prospect of direct flights between Miami and Johannesburg.

“South African Airways was a state enterprise,” Ojeda said, explaining the delays. “Now it is divesting. Also, the carrier had a relationship with Delta (Air Lines) and is now aligned with United Airlines.”

An official from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau will also be looking at tourism opportunities while the prospect of making Cape Town already a sister port a sister city is on the agenda.

The ITC has a Washington, D.C. point man, Maury Litwack at the Office of Intergovernmental affairs who believes the region can capitalize on the relationship.

“He’s observed that we are the only region with this kind of consolidated African initiative,” Ojeda said. “Lots of cities are dealing only with the petroleum exporting countries.”