JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Australian Business Chamber of Commerce Southern Africa (ABCSA) will deepen the bilateral relationship between Australia and the Southern African countries by providing a networking platform to develop their business activities and promote trade, said ABCSA inaugural chairperson Michael Templeton at the not-for-profit organisation’s inauguration.

South Africa and Australia already enjoyed strong trade and investment ties, said Australian High Commissioner and Ambassador to South Africa Graeme Wilson, who, along with Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, officially inaugurated the ABCSA at a ceremony held in Johannesburg on Monday.

“The two-way trade with South Africa, accounting for some A$3.2-billion, represents about 27% of Australia’s total African trade, with two-way investment of A$5-billion focused on the mining sector.

“In light of this, there is still considerable scope to build on those figures and to diversify the trade and investment links,” said Wilson.

Shabangu agreed with his statement, adding that the establishment of the ABCSA would provide room for improvement in the currently existing trade and investment sphere.

Australia’s links with South Africa went well beyond trade and investment, said Wilson. Further links between the two countries included extensive people-to-people links, sport and cultural links as well as shared values such as democracy, equality, human rights and respect for the rule of law.

Shabangu reiterated that the strong people-to-people ties between the countries also meant that there was a natural desire to strengthen the countries’ bilateral relations in all spheres.

Wilson noted that the two countries’ economies were also highly dependent on commodities and that there were striking similarities in climate and landscape.

Speaking to Mining Weekly this month, he highlighted that there were more than 200 Australian companies, with more than 700 projects in mining exploration, extraction and processing, operating in 42 African countries.

“The ABCSA will draw on the large number of Australian mining companies that have business interests in Southern Africa, as well as a range of businesses in other sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and education,” Wilson said, noting that Australian companies brought advanced technology and high standards of occupational health and safety to Africa but, above all, they were committed to working in partnership with local communities, which included upskilling local workforces.

The broad membership of the ABCSA included multinational companies, small and medium enterprises and individuals.

Templeton, currently also international contractor Leighton Africa’s finance and administration regional manager, pointed out that ABCSA membership was not limited to Australian and South African nationals, businesses based in Southern Africa with interests in Australia were also welcome to join.

The ABCSA inauguration was sponsored by Australian oil and gas explorer Challenger Energy. The ASX-listed company had applied for a right to explore for shale gas in South Africa’s Karoo, through its 95%-owned South African subsidiary, Bundu Gas & Oil Exploration.