The Gauteng Growth
and Development
Agency (GGDA) wants
to revive growth in
the province by expanding its
export market base.
This is according to Saki
Zamxaka, CEO of the GGDA,
who contends that while
Gauteng’s export basket has
a lot offer, it
requires a
lot more
investors.
“The
GGDA has
assisted
over 1 560
businesses through the
Gauteng Investment Centre in
Sandton, Johannesburg,” he
says.
“The centre is a one-stop
shop offering everything from
visa applications, revenue
services and environmental
impact assessments to
municipal approvals and
Department of Trade
and Industry (dti)
incentives. We try
to make it easy
for anybody
who comes
here to
have one
place that
they
can go
to.”
Gauteng is effectively the
manufacturing hub of South
Africa, with the province’s chief
exports including precious
metals, base metals and
mineral products.
“A lot of the manufacturing
activity happens here. Gauteng
accounts for a third of the
country’s GDP. If South Africa’s
economy is going to grow, a
huge portion of it should come
from Gauteng,” he says.
Part of the growth plan
requires looking at markets
outside South Africa.
“We have looked at the rest of
the continent, particularly East
and West Africa. We have also
looked at markets in North
Africa, like Algeria, and are
looking at Eastern Europe as
new markets where we have not
traditionally been dominant.”
He says there are dti
incentives which include
participation in trade missions
to countries of interest;
information about political and
economic environments and
regulations;
export credit
insurance
at ‘fairly’
discounted
rate; as well as
funding, be it
working capital
or investments
required
through the
Industrial
Development
Corporation
or the
Development Bank of Southern
Africa.
“There are various
instruments that are available
for potential exporters.
Export credit and insurance
is provided through the dti.
There are tax-related incentives
for exporters and subsidies for
equipment, depending on the
sector one is
looking at.
“We hold
sessions where
we invite people
to come and
talk about
exports. We
partner with
the dti in
training, so
people get to
know the ins
and outs of
where to start,
what you need to do to export
and what is available,” he adds.
Sectors the GGDA is
prioritising include retail and
capital equipment.
INSERT & CAPTION
The GGDA has
assisted over
1 560 businesses
through the Gauteng
Investment Centre.
– Saki Zamxaka
