CAPE TOWN (NNN-BUANEWS) -- South Africa is looking at ways to boost exports to the African continent and to Asian giants China and India, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.
In a media briefing at Parliament here Tuesday by ministers in the government's international co-operation, trade and security cluster, he said a central challenge around exports was that South Africa was exporting too few value-added products.
However, an understanding had been developed with China for the Asian country to assist South Africa to ramp up value-added exports and the department had given China a list of 10 value-added products that it wanted South Africa to export to China, he said.
He hoped that South African businessmen would also be able to take advantage of a trade exhibition at the China expo at end of year.
He said South Africa's trade with India has been growing "very, very rapidly" and hit a combined trade of 42 billion rand (one USD = about 7.40 Rand) in 2010, but pointed out that Indian statistics already suggest inter-country trade had passed the target set to reach 10 billion USD by 2012.
He said the final calculation of trade figures, however, depended on figures connected to the export of gold to India.
Davies also said that following the June summit between the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) to set up a tripartite free trade agreement, a key agreement was reached to strengthen measures in SADC itself before finalising the tripartite agreement.
He said there had been "no discernable impact" of Somali pirates on South Africa's trade with the rest of Africa, but pointed out that it remained a threat to trade with East Africa and to finalising the tripartite free trade agreement.
A meeting would be held next month to discuss a report currently being drafted on movement towards a SADC Customs Union, he said, adding that adequate consultation with the South African public would be held before any important decisions were taken.
Meanwhile, the SADC is developing a strategy to combat illegal migration and smuggling and trafficking of people. The Chair of the international co-operation, trade and security cluster, Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, said the strategy would be released in November.
Sisulu said illegal migration was being driven by the absence of an effective border monitoring mechanism, difficulties in repatriation of illegal migrants because many lacked documentation, poor co-operation between SADC members over migrants, an increase in cross-border syndicates and corrupt customs officials. --NNN-BUANEWS
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