• GDP: US$239.5 billion (2005) .
• Main imports: Machinery, plastic products, chemicals and also vehicles.
• Main exports: Mineral raw materials (gold, diamonds, platinum), agricultural produce, chemical products, machinery, electric appliances and vehicles.
• Main trade partners: China, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, UK and USA.

The South African economy dominates the southern part of the African continent. Agriculture is strong enough to allow South Africa virtual self-sufficiency in foodstuffs: livestock is reared extensively, and sugar, maize and cereals are produced in large quantities. Specialised products such as wine and fruit are exported in large quantities.

The industrial sector has traditionally been based on mining. The country has considerable deposits of common minerals such as coal, but also of valuable metals and ores which are in high demand but are scarce everywhere else except the Russian Federation: these include chromium, manganese, vanadium and platinum. Its most valuable minerals, however, are gold and diamonds, of which South Africa has long been both the world’s largest producer and exporter. Gold alone accounts for one-third of the country’s entire export income. The only key mineral that South Africa lacks is oil.

Recently, however, the traditional dominance of agriculture and mining has been supplanted by manufacturing and service industries. Manufacturing industry is concentrated in metal-based industries, mainly steel and heavy engineering, with machinery and transport equipment as the principal products. Manufacturing now accounts for around 20% of total economic output. Some advanced technological industries have also emerged in recent years. In the service sector, both financial services and tourism have expanded rapidly and both are now mainstays of the South African economy.

The Mandela government initially committed itself to a gradual economic transition through its Reconstruction and Development Programme, whose principal aim was to tackle the gross inequalities inherited from the apartheid regime. Progress was tempered, however, by the government’s insistence on fiscal restraint.

The government has since designed a scheme under which major economic assets, notably the mines, will be transferred to ‘black empowerment entities’ over a 10-year period.

Inflation in 2005 was 3.9% and annual growth was 4.9%. Few inroads have been made into the high level of unemployment, officially at 26.2% in 2004.

Perhaps the greatest long-term problem, especially as regards its impact on the workforce, is the very high level of HIV/AIDS infection in the country.

South Africa is the dominant member of the local Southern African Customs Union (with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland); it has also joined the Southern African Development Community and the Organisation of African Unity.

Suits are usually expected to be worn for meetings. Appointments are generally necessary and punctuality is expected. Business cards are widely used.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1630.

South African Chamber of Business (SACOB)
24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: (11) 446 3800.
Website: www.sacob.co.za

Department of Trade & Industry
Private Bag X84, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Tel: (12) 394 9500.
Website: www.dti.gov.za

Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI)
PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa
Tel: (31) 764 6977.
Website: www.saaci.co.za

Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry
19 Louis Gradner Street, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Tel: (21) 402 4300.
Website: www.capechamber.co.za

There are around 800 conference venues in South Africa. The main conference venues are in Pretoria and Johannesburg, though facilities exist in all other major towns, provided mainly by hotels and universities. The Conference and Incentive Promotions Division of SATOUR exists to promote South African venues and to ensure high standards of service and facilities for conference organisers. Contact SATOUR for details (see Contact Addresses).