Eastern Cape is Perfectly Positioned as a Gateway for Expanding the Export Market – Deputy Minister Whitfield
The Eastern Cape is perfectly positioned as a gateway for expanding export markets due to its five ports, providing the province with a unique competitive advantage. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Andrew Whitfield, at a crucial engagement session with Eastern Cape exporters in Gqeberha today. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector to address economic stagnation, unemployment, and the rising cost of living.
“It is a burning issue for our country, and all of you play a critical role in ensuring that we work together to achieve rapid, inclusive, and sustainable growth and job creation. We are also committed to collaborating in a far more pragmatic manner with provincial and municipal governance towards addressing the challenges faced by Nelson Mandela Bay, which accounts for over 50% of the province’s Gross Domestic Product,” said Whitfield.
He further elaborated on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) renewed export drive aimed at lowering the risk of slow domestic growth and identifying high growth opportunities for South African exporters.
“Bolstering our international competitiveness and expanding export markets is key to the Eastern Cape and South Africa’s economic recovery,” he said, noting the need to streamline export processes, lower trade barriers, and offer financial and technical assistance to local exporters.
Key discussions also centred around logistics.
“The National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), overseen by the Presidency, has been established by the government and business to address the rail, port, and road crises that are currently undermining growth and job creation in our country. We are pursuing several urgent interventions in parallel with sectoral structural reforms,” said Whitfield.
He committed to keeping a close eye on developments related to the province’s ports and the long-overdue North-South railway corridor.
Looking ahead, Whitfield underscored the dtic’s efforts to diversify exports and reduce the country’s reliance on imports by boosting the competitiveness of local companies.
“We believe that South Africa can become an export-oriented economy, and the Eastern Cape will play a leading role in that transformation,” he stated.
Whitfield assured exporters that urgent interventions were being pursued to address infrastructure constraints, with specific attention on the province’s ports and the north-south railway corridor.
“Several urgent interventions are being pursued in parallel to sectoral structural reforms aimed at opening rail and port networks to private operators,” he explained.
The meeting also touched on the significant role that the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), overseen by the Presidency, will play in tackling rail, port, and road constraints that have been hindering export competitiveness.
“I will be keeping a keen focus on developments, particularly related to Eastern Cape ports, as we continue to work with government and business to bring stability and growth,” said Whitfield. He added that attracting private sector investments into the logistics sector is essential to unlocking the province’s economic potential.
Whitfield closed the session by reaffirming the dtic’s commitment to working closely with local businesses to diversify export markets and products.
“We must also look forward to a brighter future, not just for our province but for our country, and recognise the important role the Eastern Cape plays in South Africa’s future growth,” he concluded.
For media enquiries and interview requests:
Yamkela Fanisi – Ministerial Spokesperson
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
YFanisi@thedtic.gov.za
076 034 6551
OR
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
