South African companies participating in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (dti) Outward Trade and Investment Mission have identified several business opportunities in Ghana’s economy.
Cornelis Korsten of the Built Environment Export Council (BEPEC) said the sites that the business delegation visited were a good example for South African companies harbouring ambitions of securing business abroad to emulate.
Korsten said he came to Ghana to gain a good understanding of the market from a regulatory business perspective as well as from a consumer perspective. He said the BEPEC will engage more with the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and the Ministries of Roads and Highways.
“Ghana's wealth of resources, democratic political system and dynamic economy, make it undoubtedly one of Africa's leading lights. The visits gained us substantial contacts and we received good leads that I will follow-up on,” said Korsten on Wednesday.
Kosten is part of the department’s Outward Trade and Investment Mission (OSIM) that got underway in the West African country on Sunday.
Ghana is the first stop of the two-leg OSIM that forms part of the dti’s objective to identify and create export markets for South African value-added products and services.
While in Ghana local companies have participated in business seminars, business-to-business meetings, as well as site visits to companies in different sectors.
Among the places visited was TT Brother Limited in Accra, a distributor of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It also supplies various bottled and canned foodstuff.
The delegation also visited the country’s ports and harbour to view the port expansion project.
Managing Director of Life Assay Thomas Sutcliffe said his company, which is involved in the design, research, development, production and commercialisation of point-of-care tests for humans and animals, is positive of prospects in Ghana.
“I have noticed that a lot of products and services can be supplied by South African companies in Ghana, particularly diagnostic tests for government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), at a much cheaper rate than is being currently supplied. That could be my niche leading to successful partnerships and joint ventures for distributing our products, or setting up a manufacturing facility,” said Sutcliffe.
He added that his company’s main focus is to manufacture for the African continent, and that they are well-positioned to manufacture Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products for private customers in Ghana.
Speaking ahead of the OSIM last week, Minister Rob Davies said South Africa has prioritised Ghana and Nigeria as part of the country’s integrated national export strategy.
“We have prioritised engagements with these two strategic markets as part of our integrated national export strategy aimed at developing new markets for South Africa’s value-added and manufactured goods, and services with an emphasis on Africa and emerging markets,” he said at the time.
The total value of trade between South Africa and Ghana for 2017 amounted to R5.5 billion, while with Nigeria for the same year it amounted to R28.5 billion.
The trade mission to the two countries will conclude on Friday. - SAnews.gov.za
