Slovenia Boosting Trade with South Africa
Slovenia's exports to South Africa increased by 14% to EUR 30.5m last year, while imports were up by 20% to EUR 16m. The figures for the first months of this year are even more encouraging with the exports up 61% on the same period a year ago to EUR 4m and imports surging by 140% to EUR 2.5m.
The data were presented at a business breakfast by the head of the GZS international relations department Aleš Cantarutti, who pledged that the GZS would promote cooperation between the countries and would try to organise a visit by a business delegation in South Africa later this year.
The meeting also heard that despite the distance between the countries, some Slovenian companies already operated successfully in South Africa.
Lydia Greyling of the South African Embassy in Vienna presented some data about South Africa, which she said planned to create five million jobs by 2020. A member of the BRICS group of emerging economies, South Africa posted an economic growth of 2.5% last year; it has well-developed financial, legal, communication, energy and transport sectors.
Among the reasons for doing business in South Africa the official highlighted abundant natural resources, political and economic stability, solid macroeconomic management, competitive industries, educated labour force, its excellent financial system and excellent transport and financial infrastructure.
South Africa's Honorary Consul to Slovenia Janez Pergar expressed the countries' interest in boosting and upgrading their cooperation, the potential for which he said was great. But he said using this potential would require a lot of energy, trust and patience as this was a new market and a different culture.
President of Plexus Group and Slovenia's Honorary Consul in South Africa Prieur du Plessis said that the countries had much in common, both having the potential as spring boards to broader markets. This is why he called for upgrading cooperation in trade and investment and for new ties.
GZS president Samo Hribar Milič also highlighted Slovenia's role as an entry point for the EU market and the export orientation of its economy.