South African firms encouraged to expand into global markets through UAE partnership

South African businesses have been given a clear roadmap for international expansion into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the country is actively seeking new trade corridors and investment opportunities.

This was during a high-level investment briefing hosted by the Creative Zone by Encor, the United Arab Emirates’ business setup advisory firm, and Azanyah Trade Hub, in partnership with the UAE Embassy in Pretoria on Monday.

The UAE’s status as a global business and investment hub—offering 100% foreign ownership, a favourable tax environment, investor-friendly regulations, and access to international capital—was presented as an attractive gateway for South African industries such as mining, agriculture, ICT, healthcare, logistics, real estate, and manufacturing.

The event brought together senior government officials, investors, corporate leaders, and SME representatives for strategic discussions on how South African enterprises can use the UAE as a springboard into global markets.

Azanyah Trade Hub and Creative Zone by Encor formalised their collaboration through the signing of a strategic partnership agreement, establishing a long-term framework for commercial cooperation between the two organisations.

Creative Zone by Encor is the UAE’s largest business setup advisory firm, supporting companies in establishing operations across the Gulf. Its services include company formation, tax and accounting, visas, legal services, HR, coworking, and investor connections.

“We are proud to extend our expertise to South Africa, having already helped over 75 000 businesses establish successfully in the UAE,” said Lorenzo Jooris, CEO of Creative Zone by Encor.

“This engagement demonstrated that expansion into the Gulf is no longer a distant ambition—it is a practical and achievable growth strategy for South African companies.”

A major highlight of the engagement was the attendance of Deputy Ambassador of the UAE to South Africa, Fatima Alsuwaidi, whose presence underscored the growing diplomatic and economic ties between South Africa, the UAE, and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Just last week, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, unveiled a new export diversification approach — dubbed the Butterfly Strategy — positioning South Africa to spread its trade wings across multiple global markets amid rising protectionism and shifting economic power.

Beyond Africa, the Butterfly Strategy maps out five key wings of expansion, including BRICS+ and emerging markets such as Brazil, India, China, and Saudi Arabia, offering vast consumer bases and growing middle classes.

Meanwhile, the newly formalised partnership between Azanyah Trade Hub and Creative Zone by Encor will provide South African firms with tailored support for establishing operations across the UAE and wider GCC region—including business structuring, licensing, banking, visa, and compliance services.

Azanyah Trade Hub is a South African consultancy specialising in project management, procurement, sourcing, and trade facilitation. It enables African SMEs and corporates to access international markets through supplier aggregation, digital marketplace services, trade consulting, and business development solutions.

Buhlebokukholwa Sibanyoni, executive director of Azanyah Trade Hub, said the partnership aims to give South African enterprises the tools and support needed to scale globally.

“South African businesses are ready to grow beyond our borders, but they need trusted partners who can deliver on both compliance and opportunity. Today was about turning intent into action—building tangible pathways to growth, resilience, and new markets,” Sibanyoni said.

The investment forum drew participation from representatives of Brand South Africa, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, various chambers of commerce, provincial development agencies, fund managers, and key government departments.

Discussions focused on actionable outcomes for trade and investment, cross-border collaboration, and creating an enabling framework for South African businesses to internationalise successfully.

BUSINESS REPORT