December 11 2008

Association of Friends of South Africa has been formed

SANTO DOMINGO .- Businessmen, lawyers, bankers and artists, announced yesterday the formation of the Association of Friends of South Africa, with the aim of canalizing the relations between the Dominican Republic and the later.

For such purposes, a breakfast was held on Tuesday between members of the association and the director of the South African Embassy in Cuba, Thando Nyawose.

Among the members of the association are Norman G. De Castro, who presides the association; Jose Antonio Caro, George Mansfrield, Roberto Herrera, Mijo Leurent, Geo Ripley, Gisela Ramirez de Perdomo, Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Blas Jimenez Abreu.

De Castro explained that the new entity is an apolitical, non-commercial organization, whose only interest is to promote closer ties between both countries. For now, the organization will be assisted by the South African embassy in Cuba, which visits frequently the Dominican Republic.

“The idea is to create events, situations between the two countries, congresses, seminars, workshops in both directions, ministerial and business visits," said the chairman of the organization, who is also a prominent lawyer member of the law firm Pellerano & Herrera, place where the event was held.

De Castro predicted that the institution will grow rapidly as the economies of the two countries are doing the same. One of the main objectives of the organization is to support any mission who desires to visit the African country and vice versa, he said.

Currently the trade between the Dominican Republic and South Africa is very low and is limited to the purchase and sale of certain mining products and others who come through transnational corporations.

"One of the reasons why we have worked on this project is to encourage the exchange," said De Castro.

"Traditionally there have been South African products and services sold in the Dominican Republic, there are others with much potential such as wine and derivatives from the mining and technology that Dominicans do not know such as the (beer) Miller, whose original group is South Africa and the country represents the Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, "said the chairman of the new association.

South Africa is positioned at number 22 among world economies. De Castro highlighted that the nation is part of a new economic hub, along with India and Brazil, composed of former underdeveloped nations, and is expected to become the next world powers.

Source: listindiario.com