TRADE
South Africa is a modern and diverse emerging market, providing trade and investment opportunities, not only on the basis of an internal market of 50 million people, but also in the rest of Africa totalling almost 1 billion people. The South African economy is linked to the rest of the world via the global rules of trade dealt with by the WTO, free trade agreements with the EU, SADC and EFTA, customs union with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, preferential access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act of the US and a Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCUSOR (to be implemented soon). South Africa is also a member of the BRICS group of advanced developing countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
TOURISM
South Africa is a place where natural riches meet priceless humanity; where Nelson Mandela’s birthplace meets the home of the arts; where open spaces meet a free state of mind; where a million-year heritage meets visionary vibe; where a wildlife whirl meets cultural curry and the rain queen’s magic meets Mapungubwe’s mystery, where the gold rush meets an adrenalin surge and ancient volcano’s serenity meets explosive modern entertainment; where red dunes meet purple plains and whale watching meets wine tasting. It’s well within reach when it comes to getting there, getting around, and getting your money‘s worth.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the world’s largest radio telescope, is a unique opportunity for Africa to host one of the most advanced large-scale global research infrastructures. This iconic project is not only a powerful vehicle to inspire students from all over the world to pursue careers in science and engineering, but could also serve to attract to, and retain the very best of global talent in Africa. The development of the SKA will also enable considerable investment in ICT and energy infrastructures, vibrant industry cooperation and cutting-edge innovation. But perhaps most significantly, the SKA is a project, which will significantly advance global scientific enterprise, expanding the frontiers of human knowledge. African radio astronomers are already making valued contributions to international radio astronomy programmes. The continent also offers an optimal environment for hosting the SKA