‘Partnership with China is crucial’

Facilitating the exchange of information between South Africa and China is key to growing the economic relationship between the two countries. Catherine Grant, director of trade and policy at Business Unity South Africa (Busa), says with China being one of the largest economies in the world and having the biggest population, partnership with this key world key player is crucial. “The global economic crisis has resulted in the contraction of other key economies, such as the US and Japan, but China is still expected to post growth rates of around 6% to 7% in 2009,” says Grant. “China provides a more stable market for exports and investments from South Africa in current times.” Grant says Busa actively participates in various forums to encourage trade with China such as the upcoming Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that will be held in Egypt in November this year. This is a day set aside for private sector discussions and the results are fed into ministerial meetings. At a national level the organisation regularly engages with government and labour at Nedlac on the strategic approach of South Africa to the economic relationship with China.