SA exporters explore trade opportunities in UAE amid Covid-19 crunch
The overall value of food commodities in general and foodstuff trade between UAE and South Africa imported to Dubai from South Africa in 2020 amounted to R5.2 billion
PRETORIA, March 15 (ANA) – South Africa’s Consulate General to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mogobo David Magabe on Monday called for innovation in the current environment of restricted trade due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mogobo made the remarks during a virtual trade and investment webinar attended by South African and UAE business people on Monday.
“This year has been a tumultuous year for all humanity. We are all grappling with the challenge of Covid-19 and with continuing to sustain international cooperation in a context of reduced opportunity for direct physical contact,” Mogobo said.
“While they are many challenges, the trade between South Africa and the UAE have proved its resilience during the hard times of lockdown and travel restrictions,” said Mogobo.
The objective of the webinar was to deepen the relationship that South Africa has with the UAE, and also to expose South African exporters to the UAE market opportunities relating to food and beverages.
Magabe said the UAE remains a strategic trading hub for South Africa in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and statistics indicate that the volume of trade between the UAE and South Africa amounted to USD3.8 billion in 2020. He said the figure could have been higher if it was not for the outbreak of Covid 19.
“The UAE is also an important hub for exports and re-exports of meat such as beef, mutton, goat and poultry including rabbit. There are 13 UAE approved abattoirs in South Africa. This is a small number compared to other countries. That is why today we have invited both Dubai Customs and Dubai Municipality [to] present to us about requirements to export to UAE which includes processes to obtain halaal certificates and other important procedures,” he said.
Speaking at the same webinar, Marketing Manager for South Africa Fresh Produce Export Forum, Marletta Kellerman said 10 million kilogrammes of fresh fruit were exported to the UAE in 2020.
“The fruits exported included exotic fruits, citrus, table grapes, pineapples, stone fruit, avocado, pome fruit, litchis and mangoes. The citrus fruit amounted to 62 percent of the exports while the exotic fruit was at one percent in the same period. The export numbers are an indication that our fruits in the Middle East region are still the largest agricultural exports in Africa,” said Kellerman.
Executive Director for Policies and Legislation at the Dubai Customs, Mansoor AlMalik said citrus, fresh and dried fruit are among the top five traded commodities in the UAE.
“The overall value of food commodities in general and foodstuff trade between UAE and South Africa imported to Dubai from South Africa in 2020 amounted to R5.2 billion. The trade is an indication that increasing investment in the food sector could be further explored to boost trade South Africa which enjoys rich natural and food resources,” AlMalik said.
He said the GCC unified procedures are applied on shipment between Dubai and South Africa. He added that importers and their representatives can arrange for customer clearance which is available everyday through electronic and smart application platforms.
South Africa’s department of trade, industry and competition’s trade and investment presentation at the webinar indicated that edible fruits and nuts are in the top five of exports to the UAE.
The national department also highlighted four prioritised high impact interventions to support a rapid economic rebound in South Africa.
The intervention include the massive rollout of infrastructure, rapid expansion of the energy generation capacity, a drive for industrial growth and employment stimulus to create jobs and support livelihoods.
African News Agency (ANA); editing by Naomi Mackay