The South African government will host the first BRICS-EXPO and International Trade and Tourism Conference later this month ahead of the fifth BRICS summit.

With the theme of "Pioneering business and investment opportunities between the BRIC countries and North West province", the four-day conference will kick off on Feb. 21 at the Mmabatho Convention Center in Mahikeng, the North West Province.

North West Premier Thandi Modise, who is organizing the event on behalf of Pretoria, said the conference is aimed at creating a platform for the public and private sector to explore business opportunities with international businesses from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

"One of the provincial priorities is to increase investment inflows into the province. Engagements with investors will afford us with opportunities to learn best practices in manufacturing, renewal energy, mining, mineral beneficiation, tourism, infrastructure development and agriculture beneficiation projects, " she said in a statement.

The North West Province is the mainstay of South Africa economy because of mining activities which generates more than half of the province's gross domestic production and provides jobs for a quarter of its workforce.

According to Modise, besides positioning South Africa's North West Province as a preferred investment destination, the province has prioritized the development of key economic sectors to contribute towards job creation and increase contribution to the province's GDP.

She said the province is looking forward to engagement and discussion with BRIC partners to further strengthen and solidify close ties in trade, tourism and investment.

About 300 delegates are expected to converge for the conference.

South Africa is to host the BRICS summit in Durban on March 26- 27. Endi

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