South Africa’s trade relationship with France continued to reflect the impacts of the global economic crisis, with the two countries’ total trade for 2012 having remained below 2008 levels, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said on Wednesday.

South Africa and France’s total combined trade in 2008 amounted to R30.5-billion, while that of 2012 only amounted to R26.8-billion.

Addressing the media ahead of a visit by French President François Hollande to South Africa on October 14 and 15, Davies said that, while trade between the two countries had shown some recovery, South African exports to France were still lagging behind.

“While imports from France to South Africa have almost recovered, with French imports amounting to R20.3-billion in 2012, compared with R20.5-billion in 2008, our exports to France were R10-billion in 2008, and only R6.5-billion in 2012,” he said.

Davies added that South Africa’s exports included a range of value-added products, which made the challenge of improving the export figure more significant.

Meanwhile, the Minister further pointed out that total French investment into South Africa was estimated at about R9.4-billion, while the outward investment of South African companies into France was estimated at about R941-million.

“This picture tells us that there is an opportunity to improve South Africa’s performance on the trade and investment front,” he commented.

Further, Davies said Hollande’s visit to South Africa would also include a South Africa–France business forum that would bring together about 40 French and 45 South African delegates.

Companies in the energy and infrastructure, oil and gas, financial services and manufacturing sectors would participate in the forum.

He pointed out that one of the themes to be discussed was “South Africa and France working together for Africa’s industrialisation”, which reflected government’s view that Africa was poised to industrialise and that South Africa had a key and integral part to play in the continent’s industrialisation.

“Through this visit, we are trying to reinvigorate ways in which we can promote mutually beneficial bilateral relations that fit into the theme of partnering together for Africa’s industrialisation,” Davies said.