Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) began developing business from its original office in Pretoria. Over the following decades, MC offices moved to various locations before finally settling at the prestigious Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton in 2000.
South Africa is a land rich in natural resources with a large agricultural sector and a rapidly growing population. As such, there are many opportunities for MC to develop business here. Two such businesses are the exportation of fruit (and related items) and vermiculite.
A Leading Supplier of Fruit Juice
The US is the world's leading producer of grapefruit, but production there has been declining in recent years, creating new opportunities for South Africa to supply grapefruit and related products to Japan. Furthermore, because South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere, its growing season differs from that of the US, which represents another advantage for South African producers. MC has worked closely with local grapefruit growers to capitalize on these opportunities. MC is now a leading supplier of fruit-juice to Japan, supplying Appletiser brand apple juice and fruit-juice concentrates, such as white grape, grapefruit, apple and carrot.
Vermiculite—An Ideal Alternative
After the health risks associated with asbestos were exposed, the construction industry needed to find a suitable replacement material. After extensive testing and research, it was determined that vermiculite sourced from Palabora Mining Company in South Africa would be an ideal replacement for use in construction board. MC now supplies numerous containers of vermiculite to Japan each month and we hope to further expand the business in the future.
Blessed with bright sunshine and warm temperatures, South Africa is a true golfer's paradise, and in this paradise, two courses stand above the rest.
The most famous must be the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, home to the nation's largest golfing event, the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which offers the world's largest first prize in golf. Also vying for the title of South Africa's top golf course is the Links at Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, host of the 2003 President's Cup and the first ever Women's World Cup.
With over 450 registered golf courses nationwide, local residents and tourists alike are faced with an abundance of choices. Around here, there is never a lack of opportunities to chase a little white ball across rolling green fairways under African skies.
Situated near the southernmost point of Africa, the beautiful city of Cape Town is fast becoming one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Overlooking the city is the beautiful Table Mountain, which has become a symbol of the city. Visitors to Cape Town can enjoy shopping and fresh seafood, as well as a variety of outdoor activities, including adventure sports and whale-watching.
Cape Town is the capital of Western Cape Province, where all of South Africa's great wines originate, and Stellenbosch, South Africa's most famous wine district, is only a 45-minute drive from the city. Surrounded by mountains, this quaint town is also home to one of the nation's oldest universities. The oak-lined streets are full of museums, galleries, restaurants and cafes. Stellenbosch was the first wine region to start an official wine route where visitors have the option to stop in at any of the participating vineyards for tasting, guided tours, and meals in old historic buildings or beautiful gardens.
Internationally dubbed the "Rainbow Nation", the South African population is made up of diverse cultures—a multitude of indigenous peoples from distinct local tribes as well as emigrants from around the world who have settled here over many generations. It is a veritable melting pot! There are 11 official languages, including English. Because people have such varied backgrounds, there are many different local customs, so here it is better to give a broad view of South Africa.
With four-lane highways and modern skyscrapers, South Africa embodies aspects of both the first and third world. The country is rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, platinum and minerals; it boasts excellent infrastructure and good weather, and the cost of living is fairly low—all of which makes South Africa a great destination for business and leisure.
South Africa is a leader in many fields, such as mining and manufacturing. The locally developed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) is a new kind of nuclear technology for electricity and hydrogen generation—it is a truly groundbreaking development that is being closely watched by the rest of the world.
Known as a friendly nation, this characteristic is shared by all its peoples. South Africa is renowned for its successful political democratization over the last 12 years, a movement spearheaded by former South African president and statesman, Nelson Mandela, who is fondly known as "Madiba", meaning "father".
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