Department of Trade and Industry export promotion and marketing chief director Zanele Sanni has invited manufacturing and advanced manufacturing companies from Shenzhen, China, to invest in South Africa, noting that Chinese investors could also access the additional special support measures offered by the South African special economic zones (SEZ) programme.
Speaking during the second leg of the South African expos in China, currently under way in Shenzhen, Sanni said South Africa was fast becoming a centre of manufacturing excellence that offered unparalleled opportunities for foreign and domestic investors.
China Council for the Promotion of Investment and Trade (CCPIT) director-general in Shenzhen Tao Yongxin said the city was interested in getting its businesspeople to invest in South Africa.
He noted that, since China and South Africa had very good political relations, the CCPIT was willing to work with the DTI to ensure that activities resulting in trade growth between the two countries took place.
“We would like to build a more pragmatic relationship with South Africa to also get South African companies to invest in Shenzhen. We are willing to assist the South African businesses with facilitation of processes to ensure they get credible partners from our region,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sanni highlighted that South Africa was keen to learn more about Shenzhen’s industrial parks, science and technology zones and SEZ programme.
“The Guangdong province where Shenzhen is located has transformed areas along its 4 300 km coastline into strategic and profitable transport hubs,” stated Sanni.
She added that collaboration in this area could fast-track the South African government’s plans to exploit the latent potential of its oceans economy, which could contribute R177-billion to the gross domestic product.