Karen Harverson
South Africa has the opportunity to leap-frog ahead using other countries’ technology and experience to do things right the first time.
“This country should take advantage of California’s advances in environmental issues, computers, communications and electronics,” said California Trade and Commerce Secretary Julie Meier Wright, speaking at the Made in the USA Expo at Gallagher Estate this week.
With an economy of $887-billion, California is the seventh-largest economy in the world. This week it became the first United States state to open an office for trade and investment in South Africa.
Californian exports to South Africa reached about $240-million last year. “While exports from South Africa have been very small in the past — we think it should be a two-way opportunity,” said Wright.
She said the state had been one of the first to support sanctions and now wanted to be first in aiding South Africa’s economic recovery.
Minister of Trade and Industry Trevor Manuel said a significant outcome of the rise to globalism was the increased relocation of manufacturing and production plants to meet regional demands or to service niche markets in remote parts of the world.
“What this means is that what is deemed as ‘Made in the USA’ can be an original American idea now developed and produced in another country for export to a specific region,” he said.