Germany commits to growing SA export sector

There is “tremendous” potential
for increased trade and
investment between Germany
and South Africa and the
German government remains
committed to helping to grow
South Africa’s export sector.
“As the world’s number two
exporter, Germany remains
one of South Africa’s biggest
trading partners, with over 600
German companies operating
businesses in the country and
employing over 100 000 local
people,” the new ambassador
to South Africa, Walter
Lindner, told FTW on the
sidelines of the launch of the
first small, medium enterprise
(SME) Export Incubator in
Johannesburg last week.
He added that German
investment was not limited
to the larger players but that
the smaller to medium-sized
enterprises were increasingly
looking at investment
opportunities in the country.
“German
companies like
investing in
South Africa
and they
look at it as
a long-term
commitment
– regardless
of some of the
challenges that
may arise,” said
Lindner.
He added
that German
investment
wasn’t simply to boost
exports but to boost local
industrialisation as well as
build skills.
Lindner previously served
as Germany’s ambassador
to Kenya,
director for
sub-Saharan
Africa in
the German
Foreign Office,
and until
recently, as
the special
representative
of chancellor
Angela Merkel
for the
Ebola crisis.
INSERT & CAPTION
German investment
isn’t simply to boost
exports to a country
but to boost local
industrialisation as
well as build skills.
– Walter Lindner