The Western Cape is investigating the development of partnerships with Angola’s agriculture sector around production, aiding South African retailers operating in the country, which had to source produce locally, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan Winde said on Wednesday.

Angola was currently a key trading partner for the Western Cape, with exports valued at over R2-billion in 2013 and exports over the past year increasing by 30%.

Winde had led a Western Cape business delegation to Angola, along with Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, to enhance relations between the two regions. During the delegation’s visit, businesses from both regions participated in a business-to-business workshop to explore opportunities for collaboration.

The Western Cape government’s official visit to Angola – aided by the Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Agency (Wesgro) – had paved the way for 17 local businesses to establish trade partnerships with the country.

The participating Western Cape businesses had visited Angolan retailers to further explore possible linkages, with Winde confident that they would return having formed valuable networks, adding that he looked forward to receiving a comprehensive report-back.

The Western Cape’s award-winning wine industry was also showcased, with Wines of South Africa hosting a tasting for Angolan delegates.

“Angola is South Africa’s thirteenth-biggest market for wine sales and, through smart agreements, there is significant potential to increase the volume of wine we export to other African countries,” Winde commented, adding that the value of the province’s exports to all of its markets increased by 78% between 2009 and 2014.

Zille noted that the two-day visit had been successful as both the Western Cape and Angola expressed a great willingness to explore investment opportunities between the regions.

“The Western Cape is a willing partner and we hope businesses from our region will have an opportunity to contribute to Angola’s road and infrastructure development projects. The improved transport infrastructure (including freight and ports) is beneficial for trade between our two regions,” she added.

Since an official visit by Winde in 2013, there had been numerous trade and investment missions led by Wesgro to Angola.