The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has inaugurated the National Export Advisory Council (NEAC) which is the oversight body responsible for the high level decision making on export and export related activities.

The NEAC was inaugurated over the weekend at the end of a three-day Team Export South Africa Workshop that was held in Pretoria under the theme “Export-driven Economic Growth and Industrialisation in South Africa”.

Minister Davies said the NEAC will support and contribute to the realisation of governmental programmes and policies as underpinned by National Development Plan and New Growth Path imperatives culminating into increased exports and employment gains.

“This structure will enable the broader export formations to engage with the Government and related agencies on export matters that include competitiveness issues, market access, export strategy and export plans. The National Export Advisory Council will enable the unlocking of opportunities and unleashing of barriers to trade whilst dealing with developmental issues and facilitating market access,” said Davies.

Minister Davies announced that R2.77 billion worth of export sales were facilitated by the Department through selected instruments such as Trade Shows, Outward Selling Missions and Investment and Trade Initiatives.

“This is achieved through the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme that partially compensate South Africa Exporters marketing efforts to sell their products and service into foreign markets. R1.6 billion (58%) of the sales were facilitated by companies from the Western Cape, followed by Gauteng at R437 million (16%) and Mpumalanga at R272 million (10%). The sector that accrued the highest sales is Agro-processing. This year we target to facilitate R3.5bn worth of exports through participation in thirty two trade missions and twenty nine national pavilions,” added Davies.

The National Export Advisory Council will be chaired by Minister Davies and will meet twice a year.

Minister Davies also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northern Cape MEC John Block. The MoU is aimed at facilitating the joint implementation of the key pillars of the National Exporter Development Programme which include amongst others the provision of trade information, capacity building and export promotion.