Dutch firms to raise investment in South Africa

Several Dutch corporations intend to increase their investments in South Africa, particularly in crucial areas like health, cybersecurity, and agricultural innovation.

25 Dutch firms visited South Africa in early April to examine the business potential in these sectors. Since the onset of the pandemic, this was the second physical Dutch trading expedition to the African continent. Meetings in Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Western Cape shaped partnerships and agreements, according to the Dutch embassy.

“This trade mission saw more than 120 one-on-one business meetings take place in one week,” said Han Peters, ambassador of the Netherlands to South Africa.

He went on to say that strong economic relations between the Netherlands and South Africa are good for the South African economy and society since foreign direct investment (FDI) is a driver of job creation.

The Netherlands is the second-largest source of FDI in South Africa, accounting for 19.3 percent of all FDI. Around 350,000 people are directly employed by EU companies operating in South Africa, according to predictions from 2020.