China means business with Africa
IF SOUTH Africa needs a market for its goods, China is holding the door wide open for small and medium enterprises to market their goods to the Chinese population, which will soon number 1.4 billion people.
China is launching the first ever China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November this year, and is encouraging South Africans to leverage this opportunity to gain important market access.
“This is the first ever expo in China’s history, an important step in international trade, which indicates our resolve to opening up to the world,” Chinese ambassador Lin Songtian told South Africans at the official launching ceremony to welcome the South African public to the Expo.
The group head of trade for Standard Bank, Vinod Madhava, spoke of the importance of the China-Africa trade corridor, saying Africa did trade worth $180 billion with China last year.
“China intends to import $10 trillion worth of goods in the next five years, which means $2 trillion a year. As South Africans we need to go there and participate in the Import Expo and market our goods and services,” Madhava said.
Deputy Minister for Small Business Development Cassel Mathale underscored the importance of market access for Africans. “Without market access we can’t do anything with our products, and the Expo gives us that access.”
Mathale emphasised that Africa was a significant market opportunity for China as the economic giant could tap into South Africa, SADC, the SA Customs Union as well as the broader African continent.
Chairman of the Southern Africa Shanghai Chamber of Commerce Jacky Li has put substantial effort into rallying small business enterprises in South Africa to travel to China and engage with buyers.
Numerous small and mediumsized businesses attended the launch in Johannesburg, interested in marketing everything from rooibos skin care products to South African jewellery. Many of the business entrepreneurs have never travelled to China and were eager to see the country and introduce Chinese buyers to what they have to offer.
“China is building a new platform to share economic opportunities with the world on the basis of mutual respect, fairness and justice,” ambassador Lin said to the South African audience at the launch.
China is inviting government officials, business communities, exhibitors and professional purchasers from across the world to participate in the Expo.