Regional Presence

The AHK Southern Africa is the official representation of the German economy in the countries of southern Africa. These include the following countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC): Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The SADC region comprise of 16 member states and is characterised by a high degree of heterogeneity. Business dealings are conducted in English as well as French and Portuguese in addition to numerous local languages. The population is estimated at around 300 million, with the distribution ranging from around 1.1 million people in Eswatini to more than 84 million people in the DR Congo.

A look at the economic sectors reveals a cross-regional focus. More than half of the countries' gross domestic product (GDP) relates to agriculture, forestry, mining and tourism. South Africa has the most diversified economy with a pronounced industrial base. Around 60% of the regional GDP is generated by South Africa. Nonetheless, the other countries of southern Africa can increasingly position themselves as markets for business opportunities for German entrepreneurs. In general, the entire infrastructure sector (energy, water, transport, buildings), also with regard to the necessary infrastructural framework conditions for industry, offers approaches. So far, German companies have primarily been active in the supply sector.

The representation of the AHK, the implementation of activities and above all the securing of the necessary structures for successful support with market entry and market development in the entire region is based on three approaches.

• Regional offices

In addition to the three offices in South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban), the AHK has branch offices in the region. There is an office in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. In the country of Zimbabwe, the AHK works with an entrepreneur who acts as a representative of the AHK in the local capital Harare.

• Competence centres

Taking into account the most important sectors of German foreign trade and the industry focus of the countries in southern Africa, the AHK has defined various competence centres for project work. This includes topics such as sustainable energy, mining / raw materials, agriculture, water, education / training and industry. The competence centres offer information provision, market entry support and networks in the respective sectors, with reference to the whole of southern Africa.

• Regional coordination

The AHK has had a regional coordinator since 2017. Its task is to coordinate the activities in the region and to ensure that the necessary structures and networks are in place for the AHK to fulfil its mandate. Especially in the countries in which the AHK does not have its own representations, the regional coordination is committed to establishing and strengthening appropriate partnerships and ensuring the continuous visibility of the AHK. Against this background, there is close cooperation with other German organisations in southern Africa, such as the embassies, GIZ, GTAI, KfW, etc. in addition to local organisations such as the local chambers of commerce, business development agencies and industry associations. Consistent formats, often in bilateral cooperation.

The AHK Southern Africa reflect back on numerous activities in and around the region. These include the implementation of individual services such as market studies, business partner agencies and support in setting up a company, as well as larger projects to promote foreign trade. Above all, business trips, information events (in the target countries / in South Africa / in Germany) and cooperation’s in the trade fair business can be highlighted here. 

Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) is the economic development agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. GTAI was founded in January 2009 with the aim of providing foreign companies wishing to expand their business activities to the German market with targeted and competent advice.

In addition, GTAI passes on foreign trade information to German companies seeking to develop foreign markets. Germany Trade and Invest has a worldwide foreign network of employees who work closely with the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs).

The aim of the cooperation is to provide German exporters and potential foreign investors with a central point of contact abroad under the umbrella of the AHKs.

At the AHKs, interested parties will find all important country-specific business information and can make use of targeted advisory services.

Further information can be found on the website

Business Scouts for Development are active as development policy experts in around 40 countries worldwide. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), they advise German, European and local companies on development policy issues and promote responsible economic engagement through cooperation projects. The Business Scouts for Development work closely with partners from the business community and vocational training organizations in Germany and locally. In Southern Africa, Business Scouts are active in the areas of sourcing and energy in South Africa and across sectors in Namibia and Zambia. In Zambia and South Africa at the AHK Southern Africa, in Namibia in the form of the Business & Cooperation Desk, which works closely with SAGCCI.

Business & Cooperation Desk Namibia

The Business & Cooperation Desk Namibia answers your questions about the economic situation of the country and assesses opportunities in developmentally relevant areas such as renewable energy, agriculture and certain value chains. The Business Scout will also help you develop specific projects in these and other areas. The Business & Cooperation Desk is your interface to German development cooperation. It is therefore an ideal complement to our market entry services in Namibia.

CONTACT
Christina Pfandl
Business & Cooperation Desk Namibia
Business Scouts for Development
GIZ GmbH
c/o Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade
11 Goethe Street, Room 622
Windhuk, Namibia
+264 81 4678 294
christina.pfandl(at)giz.de
Business Scouts for Development (giz.de)