Smarter, innovative trade starts with better public-private collaboration

SOUTH Africa's trade strategy has all the right ingredients: a focus on export-led growth, digital transformation, and the empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

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These are not just aspirational goals— they are essential levers for economic resilience, industrial development, and global competitiveness. Yet, while policies may be in place, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

For many entrepreneurs and small exporters, the barriers to trade are not market-related—they are administrative. The challenge is not a lack of demand for South African goods, but rather the complexity of getting those goods across borders compliantly and efficiently.

The local eCommerce sector contributes over R55 billion to the economy and is growing at more than 11% per year. Globally, digital trade is driving the next wave of economic integration, especially within blocs like BRICS, where South Africa is uniquely positioned as both a supplier and a gateway to the continent. With China now the world’s largest food importer, and an increasing demand for high-quality, traceable products, South Africa's primary agriculture and agro-processing sector—valued at over R 240 billion—is primed for global growth.