South African Trade & Investment
Promotion Agency

The Centre for Export Development (CED) promotes Africa’s value-added goods and services abroad by broadening the export base of small and medium-sized enterprises and increasing their market share in targeted high-growth markets.

With the emergence of new technologies, liberalization and digitalization, firms are evolving and rapidly expanding into international markets to explore new resources, capabilities and growth opportunities. Exporting remains a viable strategic option for firms to internationalize as it allows for greater levels of flexibility and a vital instrument for firm growth.

To tap into these growth opportunities,  firms in Africa need to possess strong sources of competitive strategy, motivation, capabilities and resources. However, successful exporting can be challenging and risky for many companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

At the CED, we are committed to helping African firms, especially SMEs, overcome obstacles to exporting. We strongly believe that the key to the export management and growth of African firms lies in the identification of real and perceived obstacles, development of strategies and deployment of support services.

The importance of enhancing the exporting position of African firms in the global market is reflected in the recent African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). In line with this objective, the CED is committed to helping African firms, in particular SMEs, not only trade within the continent but also secure a significant foothold in the global market as well as move up the value chain.