South Africa Urges Canada to Move Faster on African Trade Opportunities
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South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada, Rieaz Shaik, is warning that Ottawa’s slow approach to expanding trade ties across Africa could leave Canadian businesses behind competitors that have moved more aggressively, including China, the United Arab Emirates and other Western countries.
Shaik said Canada has yet to fully shift from viewing African countries largely through an aid and development lens toward treating them as fast-growing commercial markets. He warned that companies entering later could find many opportunities already occupied by competitors.
The High Commissioner is pushing for a new strategic partnership between Canada and South Africa focused on five areas: agribusiness, infrastructure, mining, energy and advanced technologies. The proposal would also include efforts to modernize the investment protection framework between the two countries.
South Africa could serve as a gateway for Canadian companies into southern Africa and eventually the African Continental Free Trade Area, while Canada could offer South African businesses broader access to North American markets. Shaik pointed to Canadian companies already operating in South Africa, including AGT Foods, McCain and Hatch, as businesses with potential to expand further across the continent.
The warning comes as Canada is placing greater emphasis on diversifying export markets amid global trade disruptions and tensions with the United States. Ottawa’s Africa Strategy also identifies stronger trade and investment ties with African partners as a key objective.
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Tahani Elghazaly5336 Posts
