Many Chinese enterprises have invested in South Africa’s manufacturing industry over recent years, contributing to the country’s industrial development, South African Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel said recently.

Although South Africa is a big agricultural country, it has a weak foundation in light industry. It had to import expensive light industrial goods for many years, until Chinese enterprises like Shuofeng Group were set up in South Africa.

Shuofeng Group, established in 2004, focuses on importing, producing and selling agricultural products, with an annual turnover of 300 million rand (about $21.7 million).

Such enterprises produce various light industrial products including clothing and shoes, textiles, small home appliances and hardware. They not only fill the gap in South Africa’s light industry, but bring tangible benefits to locals.

China and South Africa’s economies are highly complementary, as China boasts abundant capital and technological experience, while the latter has good infrastructure construction and investment environment, an official at the Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa noted.

The official expressed thanks to Chinese enterprises for their contributions to South Africa’s manufacturing industry, and welcomed more Chinese enterprises’ investment in the country.

In addition, Chinese enterprises brought advanced technologies to South Africa.

As of April 2018, nearly 300 locomotives produced in South Africa with the help of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd have been put to use, so far transporting 200 million tons of goods.

Wang Pan, general manager assistant at the enterprise, disclosed that the enterprise not only transferred relevant technologies in designing and producing the locomotives to local engineers, but regularly selected local employees to receive training in China.

South Africa is China’s largest investment destination in Africa. By the end of 2017, China had invested over $25 billion in South Africa, creating 400,000 jobs for locals.