Representatives of Jincheng city and Sarah Baartman District Municipality sign a framework agreement on economic and trade collaboration at a business matching conference during the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Nov 6. [Photo/jconline.cn]

Jincheng city in North China's Shanxi province and Sarah Baartman District Municipality in South Africa signed a framework agreement on economic and trade collaboration, during the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Nov 6.

Jincheng's investment environment, preferential policies and key industries such as equipment manufacturing, new energy and new materials were introduced at the business matching conference. Representatives of Jincheng Economic and Technological Development Area and Shanxi Qinghui Technology Group also promoted their industries and projects.

The economy of Sarah Baartman District Municipality, which is famous for its beef, wool and fruit, is based on agriculture and tourism, said Municipal Manager Ted Pillay, who welcomed visitors and investors from all over Shanxi at the conference.

Covering 60,000 square kilometers in the western portion of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Sarah Baartman District Municipality has a population of 388,000 and is the vehicle-manufacturing center of the country. Jincheng has been developing a relationship with the city since 2007, and the two cities became sister cities in 2010.

At the business matching conference, a series of intention to cooperate agreements were signed related to tourism promotion, investment, trade support, development and agriculture.

According to the framework agreement, Jincheng will help bring Sarah Baartman’s farm produce to the local market and provide the city with sales counters and storage space in its local bonded area free of charge.