South Africa wants Balearic investment

THE South African ambassador to Spain, Gert Grobler, yesterday met the deputy leader of the Balearic Government, Rosa Estaras, to express his country's interest in securing investment from companies in the hotel sector of the islands, as South Africa has experienced a 7 percent increase in tourism. After the meeting, Grobler explained his Government's wish to attract investment from the big Balearic hotel chains and said that his country, whose Gross Domestic Product in 2004 was 173'550 million euros, is host to five million tourists per year, the majority of whom are from Europe. The ambassador added that Iberia now makes five flights a week between Madrid and Johannesburg but this will increase to seven in March which will allow one flight per day. On Wednesday Grobler met representatives of the Balearic European Centre and has an appointment for a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce for Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera. He said he was happy to promote collaboration between Balearic companies and South Africa, given the prospect of the growth in tourism offered by his country, and also with the Football World Cup which his country will be organising in 2010.