Dti reveals strategy to grow manufactured exports to China

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has come up with a plan to see an increase in manufactured goods being exported to China as opposed to raw materials leaving the country only to be imported back in their beneficiated format. “We have identified ten value-added sectors with products for export to China as well as key beneficiation projects for inward investment from China,” said Hilda Moja, the dti’s chief director of export promotion. “Our country is resourcebased and the focus as we move into the future is valuebased. We want to see more manufactured value-added goods being exported in order to position South Africa as a manufacturing centre of excellence. This way we will address the trade imbalances that exist with the likes of China and other countries in Brics.” Having signed a comprehensive agreement with China around the promotion of SA manufactured goods, a trade show was held in Shanghai and Beijing last year, where export with sales in the region of R400 million.