USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON SOUTH AFRICA
1.Country Brief:
A) Introduction - South Africa is an exhilarating and complex country. With its post-apartheid identity still in the process of definition, there is undoubtedly an abundance of energy and a sense of progress about the place. Travellers are returning to a remarkable land that has been off the trail for way too long.
B. Climate - South Africa is a large country and has diverse climactic regions, but in general the weather is sunny and hot in the summer months (December to April), and mild during winter (May to November). Winters in the Cape are cold and wet, and snow falls on the mountain ranges here and in Natal. Gauteng and the northern areas experience thunderstorms regularly during evenings in the summer months, and winters are usually warm during the day and cold at night.
C. Geographical Area - 471,008 sq mi (1,219,912 sq km)
D. Language - IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001)
E. Currency With Exchange Rate. – 1.00 ZAR = 0.146522 USD
F. Population – (2006 est.): 44,187,637
G. Major Cities - Durban/Pinetown, 2,396,100; Johannesburg, 1,675,200; East Rand, 1,378,792 (part of Johannesburg metro. area, 2000 est.)
2. Transportation:
A. Railway - total: 22,298 km (2002)
B. Road - total: 362,099 km; paved: 73,506 km (including 2,032 km of expressways); unpaved: 288,593 km (2000)
C. Airports - 727 (2002).
D. Waterways –
E. Sea ports - Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha
3. Economy:
A. Major Manufacturing:
B. Major Export - $50.91 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment.
C. Import - $52.97 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs.
E. Major Industry - mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair.
F. Trade balance -
4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in South Africa:
Major Trade Associations
1) South African Automotive Week (SAAW)
Tel. +27(0)413655634
Fax. +27(0)413655715
E-mail - saaw@inkanyezi.co.za
2) National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa
The organisation for all franchise holders marketing vehicles in South Africa. Site contains South African motor industry facts, new vehicle sales figures, consumer trends, etc
Chambers of Commerce
South African Chamber of Business (SACOB)
Physical address:
24 Sturdee Avenue
Rosebank
Gauteng
South Africa
Postal address:
P O Box 213
Saxonwold
2132
Tel: -11-446-3800
Fax: 11-446-3850
E-mail: info@sacob.co.za
Web: www.sacob.co.za
Major Trade Shows
Date – March 21-25,2007
Show name - Durban Motor Show
Venue:
Durban Exhibition Centre
Organizer:
Kagiso Exhibitions, Johannesburg
Telephone: (11) -661-4002/3
e-mail - durbanmotorshow@kagisoexpo.co.za; jericho@gd-yth.com
Products:
Auto parking sensor, Car GPS, Car alarm system, Car automatically braking system, Auto running recorder, Auto Tyre pressure monitor system, Electronic window roll-up
5. Useful links:
South African Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts |
