Business in South Africa. Foreign trade economy exports BEE FDI

Educational level: Continuing education / Executive education programs.

Course summary (Doing business in South Africa)

Doing business in South Africa. Economy profile of SA provinces. Economic relationships. Automotive industry. Foreign direct investment

Doing business in South Africa: the engine of growth in Southern Africa.

South Africa is the economic powerhouse of Africa, leading the continent in industrial output and mineral production and generating a large proportion of Africa's electricity. The country has abundant Natural resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy and transport sectors, a stock exchange ranked among the top 20 in the world, and a modern infrastructure supporting efficient distribution of goods throughout the southern African region.

The South Africa of today is one of the most sophisticated and promising Emerging markets globally. Not only is South Africa itself an important emerging economy, it is also the gateway to other African markets.

South Africa has a world-class and progressive legal framework. Legislation governing commerce, labour and maritime issues is particularly well developed, and laws on competition policy, copyright, patents, trademarks and disputes conform to international norms and conventions.

Example of the course (Doing business in South Africa):

South Africa's economy has been in an upward phase of the business cycle since September 1999 - The longest period of economic expansion in the country's recorded history. South Africa has developed an established and diversified manufacturing base that has demonstrated resilience and the potential to compete in a global economy. The manufacturing sector provides a locus for stimulating the growth of other activities, such as services and achieving specific outcomes, such as value addition, employment creation and economic empowerment.

South Africa is member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD),  Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC)

South Africa took over the chair of the SADC (Southern African development community) in August 2008. The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) consists of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.

The Trade, Development and Co-operation agreement (TDCA), provides for the establishment of an Free trade agreement (FTA) between South Africa and the European Union. The USA is one of South Africa’s leading trading partners; SA is beneficiary of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The trade deficit with Asia increased from R8,3 billion to R9,0 billion in June 2008. Exports to 140 Asia increased by R1,3 billion to R17,9 and imports increased by R1,9 billion to R26,9 billion.

India - SACU Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA):

Economy profile of SA provinces. South Africa is divided into nine provinces, each with its own legislature, premier and executive councils. The provinces, with their own distinctive landscapes, vegetation and climate, are the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape, Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Strategy (BBBEE) is a government policy aimed at redressing past economic imbalances. Moreover, BEE is an important policy instrument aimed at broadening the economic base of the country, further stimulating economic growth and creating jobs while eradicating poverty.

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have a critical role to play in advancing economic growth, since they are responsible for developing key infrastructure and manufacturing capacity.

The Business Process Outsourcing and Offshoring industry (BPO&O) is one of South Africa's fastest growing economic sectors. Illustrating this is the call centre sub-sector, which has been growing at about 8% per annum over the past 4 years and currently employs about 54 000 call centre agents.

South Africa's automotive industry is a global, turbo-charged engine for the manufacture and export of vehicles and components. The sector accounts for about 10% of South Africa's manufacturing exports, making it a crucial cog in the economy.

According to the community Survey 2007, there are 48 502 063 people in South Africa. of these, 79% classify themselves as African; 9,6% as white; 8,9% as coloured; and 2,5% as Indian / Asian. Almost 80% of South Africa’s population follows the Christian faith.

The Constitution recognises 11 official languages, namely Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

Borders of South Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho.

South Africa has an FTA with the European Union

Scholarships South Africa

Business, South Africa, foreign, Trade, Economy, Exports, FDI, profile, SA, provinces, Economic, relationships, Automotive, industry, foreign direct, investment, Master, international business