On Thursday, trade and investment between South Africa and Germany will take centre stage at a special event. The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic) is hosting this network event in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The event, called “Partnering in Business with Germany,” will take place over two days from 12 to 13 September 2024 at the Southern Sun Sandton in Gauteng.
This global initiative is aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties between Germany and South Africa. Back in April, the dtic and the German Federal Ministry formalised this partnership by signing a Joint Declaration on Cooperation. This agreement aims to train and mentor emerging South African exporters, helping them gain access to the German market.
Lerato Mataboge, Deputy Director-General for Exports at the dtic, highlighted the programme’s goals: “We want to empower small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and emerging exporters, giving them the tools to form strong business connections with Germany and secure export deals and investments.”
The programme also helps companies become more resilient by encouraging diversification, while providing a pathway for businesses with little international experience to start trading in foreign markets.
“This initiative equips participants with the skills needed for international business, preparing them to collaborate with German enterprises. It also reduces risks and costs for German companies looking to explore new markets,” Mataboge added.
The programme not only introduces South African companies to the German market but also facilitates direct contact with German businesses interested in partnerships. As part of this collaboration, an annual alumni networking event takes place, with the first one held in Cape Town last year, attended by 60 programme beneficiaries.
So far, 234 South African companies have travelled to Germany to immerse themselves in German business culture and engage with potential export partners, thanks to this successful partnership.