Davies launches export advisory council

Minister of trade and industry, Dr Rob Davies, has launched the National Export Advisory Council (NEAC) – the oversight body responsible for the high level decision making on export and export related activities.

The NEAC was inaugurated at the end of a three-day Team Export South Africa Workshop that was held in Pretoria under the theme ‘Export-driven Economic Growth and Industrialisation in South Africa’.

Davies said the NEAC would “support and contribute to the realisation of governmental programmes and policies as underpinned by National Development Plan and New Growth Path imperatives, culminating in increased exports and employment gains.

“This structure is set to enable the broader export formations to engage with the government and related agencies on export matters which include competitiveness issues, market access, export strategy and export plans,” said Davies.

He said that R2.77 billion worth of export sales had been facilitated by the department through selected instruments such as trade shows, outward selling missions and investment and trade initiatives.

“This is achieved through the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme that partially compensates South African exporters’ marketing efforts to sell their products and services into foreign markets. R1.6 billion (58%) of the sales were facilitated by companies from the Western Cape, followed by Gauteng at R437 million (16%) and Mpumalanga at R272 million (10%). The sector that accrued the highest sales is agro-processing,” said Davies.

He said the ministry had set a facilitation target of R3.5bn worth of exports for 2015, through participation in 32 trade missions and 29 trade pavilions
The National Export Advisory Council will meet twice a year under the chairmanship of Davies.