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DTI: one-stop investment shop

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provides a one-stop shop for investors, offering a variety of services to those interested in conducting business in South Africa – ranging from details on how to do business in the country to the different forms that businesses can take.

Services for international investors include:

• Investment information: opportunities, incentives, regulations, policies, strategic sectors.
• Investment marketing: local and foreign marketing initiatives.
• Business facilitation: visas, investment missions, intergovernmental co-ordination, relocations, business introductions, black economic partnerships, financing and incentives.
• Outward investment: connections to other African investment promotion agencies, project financing, deal structuring.

Contact the DTI Customer Care Centre on:

• 0861 843 384 (local callers)
• +27 (12) 394 9500 (international callers)
• Download the Investors Handbook 2012/13 [PDF]

Boosting investment

A chief objective of the DTI is to boost investment in South Africa. It works to encourage beneficial environments for investors and exporters via investor-friendly policies and incentives.

While investment opportunities abound in all sectors of the economy, the DTI concentrates on those sectors in which South Africa has strong competitive advantages.

• See: Key investment sectors in South Africa

The unit within the DTI which is dedicated to this is Trade and Investment South Africa, which aims to increase South Africa's export capacity as well as support direct investment flows. It is also responsible for managing the DTI's network of foreign trade offices.

• Read more: DTI: first stop for exporters
• Website: www.dti.gov.za

A group of institutions

The DTI is a federation of agencies, not a single institution, and it collaborates with a range of institutions and stakeholders in developing strategies and policies to achieve its goals of industrialisation and growth.

Industrial Development Corporation

The state-owned Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) promotes industrial development by offering a range of financing facilities to help private-sector entrepreneurs set up manufacturing concerns in South Africa and the Southern African region.

The IDC provides development capital to new and existing undertakings, usually in the form of low-interest, medium- to long-term loans for acquiring fixed assets.

• Website: www.idc.co.za

National Empowerment Fund

The business of the NEF Corporation is to promote and facilitate black economic participation by providing financial and non-financial support to black empowered businesses, and to promote a culture of savings and investment among black people.

• Website: www.nefcorp.co.za

The Small Enterprise Development Agency

An agency of the DTI, Seda is mandated to implement government’s small business strategy. Its mission is to develop, support and promote small enterprises in South Africa, ensuring their growth and sustainability in co–ordination and partnership with various role players, including global partners, who make international best practices available to local entrepreneurs.

• Website: www.seda.org.za

Provincial investment promotion agencies

The DTI works with investment agencies in all of South Africa's nine provinces to promote economic development and meaningful participation in the global economic and trade environment.

• See the DTI website for a list of provincial agencies
• Read more: The nine provinces of South Africa

SAinfo reporter, based on information from the Department of Trade and Industry

Reviewed: 10 May 2013