The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) expects to conclude a tariff-free trade agreement with the East African Community (EAC) trade bloc by the end of next month, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies.
Addressing delegates at a two-day Manufacturing Indaba held in Johannesburg yesterday (Tuesday), Davies said this was part of his department’s integrated national export strategy aimed at developing new markets for South Africa’s value-added and manufactured goods in Africa and emerging markets.
“Africa is very significant for South Africa in terms of exports,” he said, adding that the EAC – which forms part of the Tripartite Alliance of the Comesa and SADC trade blocs – offered “abundant opportunities” for investment and trade.
The dti concludes its outward selling mission to Kenya and Tanzania on Friday this week. 27 companies in the agro-processing, automotive, infrastructure, built environment, mining and capital equipment, chemicals, plastics and cosmetics sectors were part of the mission.
