South Africa Plans for Multiple Entry Visas to Enhance Trade
22/05/2008 by Charlotte Norman
With a growing market for trade emerging in South Africa, the government has announced plans for issuing multiple entry visas. This action is in the hope of enticing businesses and further increasing economic movement within the country.
With global migration to South Africa already on the increase the country hopes to be able to develop its economic activity by encouraging big businesses to enhance their further direct investment. The topical plan for the visa initiative is expected see implementation throughout June.
The implementation of these visas will make entry to, from and around Southern Africa in general a lot more accessible. It would also be a key factor in driving international businessmen into the country. Under the new plans businessmen seeking multiple entry visas would have to take the economic counsellor's reference.
South Africa is addressing these new visas at India, with the aim of strengthening their already strong ties with the country.
Reports show that India is currently South Africa's sixth largest trading partner in Asia, with two-way trade worth billions every year. South Africa has various co-operation agreements with India involving several sectors, including technology, telecommunications and small business. The new multiple entry visas will play a vital role in easing future negotiations regarding these agreements
Jardine Omar, Economic Counsellor of the High Commission of South Africa in India, said the visa scheme "would not provide a blanket visa. South Africa is the gateway to southern Africa, which is still an untapped market with a population of 170 million... South Africa is greatly interested in foreign direct investment in the small and medium sectors."
Explaining the importance of the new visa plans on the economy Omar said "trade between India and South Africa has been worth $5 billion in 2007-08, which both the countries aim to take up to $10 billion by 2010-2011."
He further added that "By asking the entrepreneurs from India to explore opportunities in the areas of skill development and small-scale sector, growth in commodities trade will help the rise in total trade."
With South Africa constantly competing in the global marketplace for skilled workers the country hopes that improving procedures to allow businesses greater freedoms and opportunities to invest, will eventually give them a better standing in winning potential migrants.
Robbie Ragless a South African Immigration Worker at Global Visas, www.globalvisas.com, supports June's visa implementation "There is definitely an unexplored area of global trading across Southern Africa which would benefit greatly from being exposed. The visa incentive is the first step towards to improving South Africa's economic standing, particularly on a global platform."
At present India and South Africa are primarily engaged in resource trading, however many officials feel that this is an area which needs to be diversified into trade of more value-added goods.
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