Trade Mission to South Africa

South Africa is widely considered to have the most advanced, broad-based and productive economy in Africa with a pro-business environment.  Consider South Africa as your next market of opportunity! 

The ITRC is pleased to announce a ten-state trade mission to South Africa in November 2008 sponsored by the Eastern Trade Council (ETC) and the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).  The ETC is a consortium of trade development offices from the ten northeastern states dedicated to promoting trade on a regional basis.  Join companies from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont on this extraordinary trade mission!

In 2006, South Africa achieved GDP growth of 5% and an industrial production growth rate of 7.1%.  English is the business language; the legal and corporate framework is very similar to the US; manufacturing and resource-based industries are expanding; and consumer and capital equipment sales have reached record levels.  Exports from the 10 Northeastern US states to South Africa reached a record $622.1 million in 2006, an increase of 9.1% over 2005. 

This market has elements that define it as both a developing and developed market – a factor which benefits American companies coming into the market.  The region is a fast adopter of high tech imports and almost 8% of economic output is related to automotive manufacturing.  The mining sector continues its runaway growth; South Africa has 80% of the world’s platinum and 40% of the world’s known gold reserves as well as a host of other precious and non-precious metals.  Given the ongoing commodity boom driven by demand in emerging markets, South Africa will continue to do well.

Join us in this trade mission to South Africa to discover new business opportunities!