Economic Section

The Economic section

Ms. T. Makhene
Counsellor-Economic

The Economic Section offers advice and support to South African exporters and Japanese importers, as well as facilitate business activities, ie. investments into South Africa.

Mission

Economic Section's mission is to increase South Africa's capability and capacity to promote exports into Japan; increase and retain the level of foreign direct investment and facilitate government-government economic collaborations.

Purpose

To carry out this mandate, Economic Section regularly interacts with Japanese and South African business stakeholders, especially industry and sector customers through various forums, advisory bodies, stakeholder meetings, conferences, exhibitions and business missions.

Investment promotion

The Economic Section is responsible for promoting South Africa as a prime destination for investment. Offerings provided by Economic Section include:

Identifying potential investors
Promoting investment opportunities in key sectors
Facilitating investment into South Africa from Japan
Providing general information on investing in South Africa
Arranging outward investment missions
Facilitating funding and government support

Export promotion

Economic Section is responsible for promoting South African goods and services into the Japanese market. Some of the services and offerings provided by Economic Section include:

Gathering market intelligence
Identifying products with potential into the Japanese market
Identifying and facilitate the removal of obstacles impeding export growth
Matching potential exporters with Japanese buyers
Providing information and advisory services
Providing export market information

South Africa - Japan Economic relations

Although Japan has historically been a key partner for South Africa, the relationship was initially based on the export of strategic raw materials and agricultural products from South Africa and the importation of the technology-Intensive or value added goods. The structure of trade has now changed to include value exports, most notably vehicles. Japan is now the top trade partner (imports) for South Africa.

South Africa has enjoyed a positive net trade with Japan since 1999 and in 2007 the trade balance was over R13 billion. Key Japanese exports to South Africa include the transport, especially automobiles and machinery, especially electrical machinery sectors. Key South African exports include base metals, notably Ferro-alloys, non-ferrous metals, and intermediate iron and steel products. South Africa supplies Japan with over 70 per cent of its platinum imports.

Since 2000 and 2001 onwards vehicle exports from South Africa, the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class, became the first value-added products to be registered amongst our key exports to Japan. In 2005 the Japanese exports to South Africa include original equipment for motor vehicles, especially automobiles, machinery, and electrical consumer goods sectors.As can been seen SA is starting to export some value-added goods, but there is considerable potential for expansion if one compares it to recent exports to our other main trading partners (UK, US and Germany).

Agricultural products exported to Japan include:

Citrus: SA is the second largest exporter.
Bottled wine: SA is the 8th largest exporter.
Rooibos tea: Japan is an important market for this indigenous herbal tea of SA.
Fruit juice: Japan is an important market and most major juice brands are represented in Japan.

The Embassy facilitate participation of SA companies in major Japanese trade shows such as FOODEX JAPAN, Supermarket Show or IFEX (International Flower Expo). Likewise for Japanese potential importersthe Embassy facilitates that they (through EMIA scheme) attend trade fairs in South Africa. Some trade showsare introduced in the frequently asked questions of this website.

Trade Statistics (2000 – 2007)

Table 1: SA Trade with Japan (Rands – 000)

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Exports	16,867,009	19,474,064	24,783,866	24,172,021	26,601,871	33,156,988	41,315,989	50,400,492
Imports	14,838,870	14,698,791	19,122,094	18,236,646	20,942,096	23,750,596	30,261,109	36,978,079
Net Trade Balance	2,028,139	4,775,273	5,661,472	5,935,375	5,659,775	9,406,392	11,054,880	13,422,413

Source: Customs and Excise

Table 2: Top ten traded products with Japan (2005)

SA Exports

Motor cars, Platinum, Ferro-alloys, Fuel wood, Unwrought aluminium, Iron ore, Manganese Ores, Unwrought Nickel, Citrus fruit, Cane or beef sugar.

SA Imports

Original equipment components for motor cars, Motor cars, Self-propelled bulldozer, New Pneumatic Tyres, Transmission apparatus for radio, Parts & accessories of motor vehicles, Parts & accessories, vehicles for trans of goods, Auto data processing machines, Fork-lifts.

Source: Customs and Excise

Major Exports From South Africa to Japan in 2007

4 digit HS code	Description	Export (R 000 000)
7110	Platinum	23,867
8703	Motor vehicles	7,256
7601	Unwrought aluminium	3,793
7202	Ferro-alloys	3,715
2601	Iron-ores and concentrates	2,460
4401	Fuel wood	1,773
7502	Unwrought nickel	1,190

Picture gallery


Counsellor Economic presenting at the Tokyo Diamond Exchange (TDE) 17 September 2010	Investec Asset Management Seminar 5 November 2010

Seminars of South African wine held in Tokyo and Osaka	South African Master Crafters' visit to Tokyo, Japan 21-27 April.

This year South Africa successfully participated in Foodex the biggest food and beverages fair in Asia and second largest in the world.	Counsellor Economic’s visit to Osaka – seen here looking at the display of SA wines.

Contact us

Counsellor-Economic	Ms T Makhene
The representative of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti)	Tel: 03-3265 3366	counsellor@sajapan.org

Marketing Officer	Mr. S Yamamoto
Areas of responsibility: Foods (excluding meat, seafood), Beverage, Flower, Horticulture, Security-related, Electronics (Hardware), Nuclear irradiation (semi-conductor, nuclear medicine), and Clean energy	Tel: 03-3265 3366	yamamoto@sajapan.org

Marketing Officer	Mr. K Katsunuma
Areas of responsibility: Meat, Auto and parts, IT (Software), Chemical, Minerals, Metals, and Machinery	Tel: 03-3265 3366	katsunuma@sajapan.org

Marketing Officer	Mr. T Shimura
Areas of responsibility: Service Industries, Film (including movie and TV commercial etc.), Jewellery, Gift Items (including arts and crafts), Medicines/Pharmaceutical Products (including clinical trial business), Cosmetics, and Marine Products	Tel: 03-3265 3366		shimura@sajapan.org

Secretary	Ms. T Yajima
Areas of responsibility: Administration	Tel: 03-3265 3366	yajima@sajapan.org