PPPs key to export growth, says Wesgro

Growing exports remains a key priority for the Western Cape, as the region looks to unlock new markets, strengthen trade resilience and drive economic growth. According to Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, it is critical for the province to drive exports from a regional level with export- led growth firmly positioned as a strategic objective. The Western Cape launched the ‘Made in the Cape’ buyer programme in 2023, supported by DHL Express and Standard Bank, to connect more local exporters with international buyers. “Since its inception in 2023, Made in the Cape has delivered actionable results. To date, the programme has secured 13 signed trade deals, with a projected value of R50.7 million over the next five years,” said Stander. Earlier this year, Wesgro hosted 34 international buyers from 17 countries, who engaged with more than 230 Western Cape exporters over two days. The engagements spanned priority sectors, including manufacturing, design, film and agri-processing. According to Stander, strengthening trade requires sustained collaboration. “Boosting trade cannot be achieved in isolation or through siloed efforts. Our partnerships demonstrate the power of public and private sector collaboration in unlocking new opportunities for Western Cape exporters.” She added that long-term export growth depended on coordinated action between government, corporates and industry to ensure local firms could compete and scale internationally. Exports from the Western Cape have shown steady growth in recent years, increasing from R160.9 billion in 2021 to R219.7bn in 2025, underlining the province’s growing weight in South Africa’s export landscape. Stander said this year’s buyers had travelled from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, the United States, Canada, Austria and the United Kingdom. The group included 19 new and 15 returning partners. Returning buyers featured leading retail and tourism players from India, the Middle East, Kenya and China, while new participants included major players across film, wine importation, fresh produce, large-scale distribution and food supply – reflecting strong and growing international demand across diverse sectors. They included global corporates such as The Walt Disney Company and Reliance Retail Ltd, alongside regional distributors and specialist importers. The composition of buyers supports Wesgro’s strategy to deepen established trade relationships while unlocking new market access, in line with the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs Strategy, which recognises that sustainable employment is driven by private sector expansion. According to Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, export-led growth remains of strategic importance. “We are opening doors – doors that connect our local businesses to global opportunities, and global buyers to the unmatched quality, creativity and reliability of Western Cape products and services,” he said. “Export growth, investment attraction and private sector expansion are the engines of sustainable job creation in our province. We know that jobs come from globally competitive businesses – businesses that can scale beyond local borders.” LV