As the EU is the home to two of our biggest export markets, i.e., the Netherlands at R20.28bn worth in 2024 and Germany with R5.30bn worth of exports in 2024, there is still potential for growth in the region.
One of the best ways to connect with European buyers is by joining one of the many trade missions that emanate from South Africa, through the likes of WESGRO in the Western Cape, or the DTIC, who host pavilions in many of the trade shows in Europe. Be sure to have the necessary marketing material of your product, and audio-visual presentations also help in getting the message across.
There are various conferences that focus purely on investing in Africa, one example being AFSIC – Investing in Africa (www.afsic.net), which is hosted in London in October, and EWC can connect you with their portal, which places European businesses interested in developing intercontinental trade with Africa.
As we get closer to the full implementation of the AfCFTA there is growing interest in our continent and even more so with the many conflicts in the Middle East & Eastern Europe, the uncertainties of the Trump administration regarding trade and reciprocal tariffs, trading with the African continent has never looked more inviting, and thanks to the AfCFTA, it is becoming easier to trade.
Another way to access European markets is through the various business chambers in South Africa that represent EU Nations, inter alia, the French/South African Business Chamber (FSACC) that has been active in South Africa since 1975 and hosts regular events with French companies who want to set up in South Africa, or are established here and want to grow their market share here – both Johannesburg and Cape Town hosts regular events to market their countries trade advantages.
Germany, as Europe’s most populous nation, can be accessed by contacting GIZ (www.giz.de), the main development agency of Germany or the SA/German Business Chamber (www.suedafrika.ahk.de). Italy is also represented by the Italian/South Africa Chamber of Trade & Commerce (www.italcham.co.za). Belgium and the Netherlands are also well represented in South Africa, as Brussels is the host city of the European Union (EU) and is well represented by the European Union Delegation to South Africa (www.eeas.europa.eu), which also provides a trade fact sheet for all 27 countries that belong to the EU.
In view of the importance of the EU as our trading partner, and the historic connection South Africa has with the EU, let alone the trade agreement – EU-SADC-EPA – SA Economic Partnership – which allows the majority of South Africa’s manufactured and agricultural products to enter the EU duty fee, the with certified EUR1, ensuring th the pro being imported into the EU is 100& locally Another marketing tool is the Cape Trade Portal, which is operated by WESGRO in the Western Cape (www.capetradeportal.com) and annually, International Visitors to the site are invited to visit the Western Cape and meet the local manufacturers in a week of B2B meetings – this normally happens in February and creates a golden opportunity to meet new trading partners. This is just a brief overview of a growing market for South African products with unlimited potential, as the north-south trade is well served by International carriers who offer a weekly, uninterrupted direct service with some of the world’s largest carriers.
ABOUT EXPORTERS WESTERN CAPE
The author: Terry Gale, Chairman at Exporters Western Cape, terry@ewc.org.za
Established in 1979, The Exporters Club prides itself on being an altruistic non-profit organisation that facilitates business networking through events which are as informative as they are enjoyable. As an initiative that was founded in the sole interest of the various role players of the export industry, they also aim to be a forum through which concerns may be raised andbinput provided.
