CLIVE EMDON CHINA’S BILATERAL trade with Africa increased from US$ 0.9 billion (R61.7b) in 1990 to $39 billion (R267.2b) in 2005, with the country moving at a pace into the global order at every level. South African exporters should “find a toehold in China” and work hard at developing trade, Kobus van der Wath, MD of specialist consultancy on China-Africa solutions, The Beijing Axis, told the Johannesburg Exporters’ Club last week. “It is a country of varied needs and of huge trading opportunities. Don’t view China as a monolith or a difficult country to export to,” he said. Van der Wath, who has spent 13 years in business in Asia, believes it is important for exporters to China to get the basics right. “You need your own (language) intermediary, who is preferably your own employee, and your own lawyer to get into the right door,” he said. Quoting figures on China’s extraordinary economic growth – in excess of 9.4% a year for the past 25 years – he said that at this rate it would overtake the US economy by 2040. In 2005 China commanded a 7% share of global trade with $1.5 trillion in worldwide exports and imports. Exports grew at 20-35% a year and imports at 20-30%. He said China spent US$60 billion on foreign direct investment and in its next phase “would develop more savvy, better marketing, and position and brand its products.” In addition it would produce true indigenous products in place of its current 55% production for multinational companies.
