The export of hand sanitisers to 30 African countries between June and November has earned South Africa R1.66bn, according to data released by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, today.
The sanitisers were exported to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Botswana among others.
“At the start of the pandemic, South Africa faced a shortage of hand sanitisers and industry worked with government to expand local production,” said Patel. “Measures were put in place to ensure adequate local capacity and to encourage exports to other African countries.
“As soon as sufficient capacity was built up for local use, the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) issued permits to local companies to export product to other African countries,” he said.
“South Africa has the continent’s largest diversified industrial base and was able to use local know-how to roll out on scale the production of critical personal protective equipment, like sanitisers.”
– SAnews.gov.za
