Western Cape raises export pitch

The Western Cape is

planning to ramp up its trade

missions to Asia, the Middle

East and Europe in 2017 as

part of a strategy to mitigate

the effect of the recent

credit ratings

downgrades.

Wesgro

CEO Tim

Harris

told FTW

more than

30 trade

missions

would be

undertaken

during

the

next few months. “This is

a big increase on the usual

number. Now more than

ever we have to grow exports

from the Western Cape and

taking exporters

to these markets

is a key strategy.

At the same time

we are doubling

up on our efforts

to build Cape

Town and

the Western

Cape’s

brand as a

world-class

investment

destination.”

Minister

of economic

development,

Alan Winde,

said with so

much political

and economic

uncertainty

around South

Africa – in

addition to

the negative

outlook – it

was clear

the Western

Cape had to

help itself by implementing a

strategy that would mitigate

any further risk.

“We have a gap thanks to

the rand value right now. We

are more

competitive

suddenly

than other

places

in these

markets. We

have to be

there. We

have to get

into those

markets

and sell our

products.”

He said

going forward strong focus

would fall on agricultural

exports as the Western Cape

played a prominent role in

this sector, contributing 60%

of the total product exported.

At the same time a

different response was

required to how the province

interacted politically at

a national level so that it

increased pressure in order to

stop any further downgrades,

as the consequences would be

extremely dire, Winde added.

INSERT

More than 30 trade

missions will be

undertaken over the

next few months.

– Tim Harris