19-09-2017
UK International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, visited Cape Town yesterday. He engaged with key government and business partners on our shared South African and UK goals of accelerating trade and investment between South Africa and the UK.
Dr Fox was the first international minister to visit the new Invest SA One Stop Shop since President Zuma opened it ten days earlier. At the facility he engaged companies doing business in the Western Cape and the UK, from traditional sectors – wine, fruit and tourism – to innovative new Cape Town strengths in creative, tech and service industries. In meetings with Western Cape Minister for Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille, and the British Chamber of Business in South Africa, Dr Fox discussed future opportunities for enhancing trade with the Western Cape and Cape Town.
UK International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said:
“The UK is the largest foreign investor in the Western Cape. But we want to do more. The Invest SA One Stop Shop is an impressive facility that will greatly assist UK investors planning to invest in South Africa.
We are making billions of pounds of additional financial support available to UK exporters and buyers of UK goods and services in South Africa and opening up further export opportunities for British businesses across Africa through overseas investment insurance.”
Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape Government, said:
“It was a pleasure meeting Dr Fox, and we had a wide-ranging discussion on boosting trade, investment and tourism between our regions. It is clear there are mutually beneficial opportunities for South African and UK businesses, and we look forward to working together to further growing bilateral trade.”
CEO of Wesgro, Tim Harris, said:
“Wesgro welcomes Dr Liam Fox’s announcement that the United Kingdom Department of International Trade will be launching a new insurance policy to help UK companies invest abroad. Over the last decade, the UK has been responsible for 25% of all FDI projects into the Western Cape, and we believe this move should facilitate even more investment by UK companies. We are also confident that the new InvestSA One Stop Shop here in Cape Town, operated by Wesgro in conjunction with the DTI and the Western Cape Government, will help make this even easier and we will do as much as possible to ensure that the red tape is cut. As Cape Town and the Western Cape’s official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency, Wesgro will continue working with British businesses to remind them that the Cape is a safe, secure partner that can provide a stable base for them to grow new markets in South Africa and the rest of Africa. This is critical in ensuring economic growth and job creation in the province and the country.”
________________________________________
(For note to editors):
Invest SA One Stop Shop
The Invest SA One Stop Shop Western Cape is an intergovernmental facility operated by Wesgro, in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Western Cape Government, that aims to provide strategic guidance, and reduce regulatory inefficiencies and red tape for all investors looking to invest in the Western Cape. This is done by co-ordinating and incorporating special economic zones, provincial investment agencies, local authorities and the relevant government departments involved in regulatory, registration, permits and licensing matters all under one roof. There are 13 stakeholders based at this investor centre, the first such provincial facility in the country. For more information on the centre, or to obtain a meeting with the Centre manager, please contact Salman Kajie (salman@wesgro.co.za).
Wesgro
Wesgro is the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. We are the first point of contact for foreign buyers, local exporters and investors wishing to take advantage of the unlimited business potential in Cape Town and the Western Cape. Wesgro works closely with key players including the South African Government, business, and labour, the City of Cape Town, district municipalities and rural local authorities. Our mandate is to attract and facilitate foreign and domestic direct investment into the region and exports of products and services through development of export capability, demand and market access, and to promote Cape Town and the Western Cape as a viable business and leisure tourism destination.
UK Department for International Trade
International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox is on a three day visit to South Africa (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria) and Mozambique. Today he will meet Minister for Department of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies.
The Department for International Trade press release link here provides more detail on the visit and the new measures announced.
Media Enquiries:
Mayibuye Magwaza
Political and Communications Officer
British Consulate-General, Cape Town
060 419 0915
mayibuye.magwaza@fco.gov.uk
Colin Wardle
Media Relations Officer
Wesgro
073 326 0834