Growing exports out of Gauteng remains a top priority for the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), which drives several key initiatives to boost trade.JCCI CEO Bernadette Zeiler noted that 2024 had seen a slow start due to global elections in over 60 countries. “Many businesses were on hold ahead of the elections, but with the South African election now behind us, we're seeing an uptick in activity,” Zeiler told Freight News, adding that business confidence was expected to improve significantly in the coming months.Zeiler acknowledged the ongoing pressure on businesses to create jobs and grow the economy but said there was much optimism considering the changes already seen in the past few weeks.“The new cabinet is very pro-business and I believe we will see changes in South Africa that will benefit trade moving forward,” she said. “The focus must stay on promoting international trade to boost the provincial economy, create much-needed jobs and attract more investment.”According to Zeiler, while services remained a key export for Gauteng, the agri-processing and mining equipment sectors were rapidly growing. “The agri-processing sector, in particular, is showing significant growth. We've seen major increases in citrus, f lower and meat exports from the province.” Zeiler urged companies across Gauteng to explore the export sector as a means of expanding their businesses. “An export strategy as an expansion strategy makes sense. Numerous free trade agreements and incentives are available that can contribute to business growth,” she said.The JCCI is well known for its work in the small and medium enterprise development field, having partnered with numerous initiatives locally and internationally to boost exports.“We continue to focus on promoting trade, particularly by assisting smaller companies to access international markets. The scope for our local companies is vast, especially considering the many trade agreements and incentives available that can facilitate their growth and expansion.”Zeiler said the African Continental Free Trade Area was creating significant opportunities to increase intra-African trade, with growth expected across various key markets on the continent.“We are also seeing continued growth in the European Union (EU). South Africa remains a major trading partner with the EU, and exports from the country, and from Gauteng, are steadily rising in this market. Another market showing great potential is Saudi Arabia,” she said.Asked about challenges, Zeiler said lack of infrastructure and expensive logistics were two of the biggest stumbling blocks for exporters. “Load-shedding, for example, remains a concern while it can be challenging to get our products to market. We need to invest in infrastructure and reduce logistics costs to support our exporters."
