Midrand: South Africa has intensified efforts to expand its export footprint across Africa and beyond, following a successful Export Symposium and Expo. The expo was hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in Midrand from 14 – 16 October 2025.
According to South African Government News Agency, the event brought together over 130 local exporters from key value-added and high-growth sectors, serving as a strategic platform to showcase proudly South African products and drive conversations on trade diversification in an increasingly volatile global market. The dtic’s Chief Director of Export Promotion, Zanele Sanni, emphasized South Africa’s commitment to reducing reliance on a narrow group of trading partners through the symposium.
‘The Export Symposium provided a dynamic platform to discuss how South Africa can leverage trade for inclusive growth and resilience. It underscored the urgency of diversifying our markets and strengthening intra-African trade,’ Sanni said. The three-day programme featured four robust panel discussions covering topics such as export finance, inclusive growth, and the role of trade agreements in unlocking new markets.
A key highlight was the focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which Sanni described as ‘a catalyst for South Africa’s export growth into the continent’, particularly amid global trade disruptions and rising tariffs. Buyers from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi engaged in business-to-business sessions with South African firms across sectors such as automotive components, ICT, agro-processing, mining machinery, and branding services.
‘When the bulk of buyers come from across Africa, it confirms our ambition to channel export growth towards the continent, especially for value-added manufactured products,’ Sanni said. Delegates called on the government to expedite the finalisation of rules of origin for sensitive sectors – a step seen as critical to building regional value chains and boosting employment within African economies.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, who opened the event, said the Export Symposium will continue to evolve and expand to other African countries, enabling them to showcase their own manufacturing capabilities. ‘Each African country has the potential to produce value-added goods, source from one another, and strengthen intra-African trade, moving beyond the current 15 to 16% levels,’ Godlimpi said.
The dtic said the outcomes of the symposium would feed into ongoing efforts to position South Africa as a leading exporter of competitive, high-quality goods within the African market and globally.