Midrand: Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, emphasized the critical role of partnerships between government, business, and labor in fostering export-led economic growth during his address at the Export Symposium and Expo in Midrand, Gauteng.
According to South African Government News Agency, Godlimpi outlined the necessary actions for achieving export-led growth, which include government efforts in creating an enabling environment, negotiating market access, providing diplomatic and financial support, delivering infrastructure, ensuring facilitative regulation, and offering market intelligence. He stressed the importance of businesses taking risks, innovating, investing, and competing in challenging international markets, with a focus on quality, innovation, skills development, and transformation.
Godlimpi highlighted South Africa’s recent export performance, noting resilience and vulnerability. In July 2025, exports reached R184.3 billion, up from R170.7 billion in June, resulting in a trade surplus of nearly R4 billion in August. Agricultural exports to Africa, particularly maize, apples, pears, and wine, account for 40% of export value. Despite these successes, he cautioned against the concentration in a limited number of markets and dependency on raw materials.
The Deputy Minister identified sectors like automotive, aerospace and defense, pharmaceuticals, fashion, film, agro-processing, and advanced manufacturing as areas where South Africa possesses world-class capabilities. He called for scaling up these sectors and ensuring meaningful participation of small and medium enterprises (SMMEs), especially those owned by women, youth, and historically disadvantaged South Africans, in the economy.
Godlimpi also mentioned the launch of Proudly South African’s new online platform as a significant development in democratizing market access, highlighting the transformative effect of e-commerce and digital trade in reaching global consumers.
He advocated for value addition to raw materials as a path to prosperity, emphasizing the need to transform raw materials into higher-value products to support South Africa’s industrialization strategy. The Deputy Minister described the ‘butterfly strategy’ for market diversification, which includes targeting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), BRICS+, emerging markets, ASEAN, Gulf States, and traditional European markets.
Godlimpi noted challenges such as US tariffs threatening jobs, global uncertainty causing volatility, intense competition, and climate change creating new barriers. The ongoing Export Symposium and Expo, which runs from 14-16 October 2025, gathers key stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, export-focused businesses, and international trade experts, to explore strategies for growing and diversifying exports. Over 130 South African exporters from various key sectors are showcasing their high-quality proudly South African products and services.