Ministers Visit China to Grow Western Cape’s Export Market

 

Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, and Gerrit van Rensburg, Minister of Agriculture, are travelling to China to investigate opportunities in key sectors such as renewable energy, tourism and wine exports.

 

China is the fastest growing economy and the world’s second largest importer.

 

Minister Winde said some of the leading export products from the Western Cape to China were copper, grape wines and dried or fresh citrus fruit.

 

“In 2012 the Western Cape exported goods to China worth R1.4 billion. This was a 7.7% increase from 2011. Over the past decade China has invested R236 million into Foreign Direct Investment projects in the Western Cape. The province is well positioned to increase its share of trade and investment with that growing market,” said Minister Winde.

 

Minister Van Rensburg, who will be leading a delegation of Western Cape wine producers to the Yantai Wine Festival in Shandong Province from 5 to 7 July, said wine exports to China were worth R231 million last year: “South African wine exports to China have by 34% between 2009 and 2012. We hope to build on the valuable business connections that we’ve made through our participation at the 2011 and 2012 Yantai Wine Festivals to further increase demand for our products.”

 

In addition to attending the Yantai Wine Festival, ministers Winde and Van Rensburg will attend meetings with potential and current Chinese investors into the Western Cape and with South African companies currently operating in China.