The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Change, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), will host the Partnering in Business with Germany network event at the Southern Sun Sandton in Gauteng from 12-13 September 2024. The global programme is designed to promote trade and investment linkages between Germany and South Africa.
In April this year, the dtic and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Change signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation to formalise a programme to train and mentor emerging exporters from South Africa to access the German market.
According to the Deputy Director-General of Exports at the dtic, Ms Lerato Mataboge, the programme’s objectives is to capacitate Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and emerging exporters by allowing them to forge successful business ties with Germany towards securing export orders and investment.
Mataboge points out that the programme targets companies to become more resilient through diversification, and also to assist companies that have so far had little experience with foreign markets to internationalise.
“The Partnering in Business with Germany programme focuses on imparting skills required for international business relations and developing companies to be ready for cooperation with German enterprises. In turn the programme also reduces risks and transaction costs for German companies looking at new markets,” says Mataboge.
“Through the programme participants are prepared to enter the German market and brought into contact with German firms interested in doing business with South Africa. As part of the successful collaboration between the two Ministries an alumni networking event is also held annually. The inaugural event took place in 2023 in Cape Town, attended by 60 past beneficiaries of the programme,” she adds.
The partnership with the German Ministry to mentor South African companies, has resulted in 234 companies traveling to Germany to experience German business culture and engage with potential export partners.
For media enquiries and interview requests:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
Follow us on X: @the_dtic
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