During the week-long trip covering Johannesburg and Cape Town, which is primarily aimed at companies from the Advanced Engineering, Materials Science, Oil and Gas, Energy, Education and skills sector, delegates will get the opportunity to meet with leading South African sector and trade leaders to learn more about the specificities of doing business in the country.
Exports to Sub-Saharan Africa were worth £906m in 2012 with South Africa accounting for just over a quarter of the total – making the region, and the country, a key market for East of England exporters.
One-to-one sessions with invited South Africa businesses have been organised for delegates, which includes representatives from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School, Cambridge-based TWI (The Welding Institute), Hertfordshire-based Electrox and Norwich-based PPI Engineering. And there will be a series of talks and networking opportunities to make the most of the mission.
In preparation for the visit, companies also attended a free masterclass in Bedfordshire to help them discover South Africa’s many opportunities and gain practical knowledge on how to access them.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Liz Basing, UKTI Regional Director for UKTI in the East of England, said: “South Africa is in the UK’s Premier League of trading partners with an annual bilateral relationships of over £9.5bn. This high growth country, which is often seen as the Gateway to Africa, is currently investing heavily in infrastructure and capital projects and has a sustainable and growing industrial and manufacturing base.
“These represent very real opportunities for UK companies from all sectors, which should be seized now, while there is a high demand for UK goods and services. To find out how and get invaluable exporting support to target this and other markets across the globe, give UKTI a call today.”
Trade mission leader Dr Brian Stammers, International Trade Advisor at UKTI East, also commented: “South Africa offers a unique and compelling package which includes the stability of a developed country, the opportunities of a vibrant emerging market and an exciting cultural climate. And with English as an official language, it makes for a more accessible market too.
“During the visit, we will be providing unparalleled access to knowledge, key contacts and on-the-ground support for delegates thanks to our team based at the High Commission in Johannesburg and their country-wide network. Thanks to these, they will be able to unlock South Africa’s potential and make successful first steps on this exciting market.”
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For details of upcoming trade missions and exporting events in the East of England, visit our website. To find out more about how UKTI can help your business export, contact us on 0845 641 9955 or email [email protected].
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