Dubai Chambers discussed ways to further develop trade and investment relations with Western Cape Province in South Africa during a meeting held in Cape Town with the province’s Premier, Alan Winde. The meeting was attended by Salem Al Shamsi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chambers.

During the meeting, Dubai Chambers highlighted the strengths of Dubai’s business environment and the opportunities it offers to South African companies seeking to expand into regional and global markets. The discussions also underlined Dubai’s role in supporting international trade, facilitating cross-border business partnerships, and enabling the emirate’s business community to benefit from opportunities available in overseas markets.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the trade mission organized by Dubai Chamber of Commerce to Cape Town, as part of its efforts to support the expansion of Dubai-based companies into South African markets. The mission also aims to connect participating companies with local partners, explore areas of cooperation, and identify new growth opportunities across several sectors.

Alan Winde, Premier of Western Cape, said the province is keen to strengthen and expand its trade relations with Dubai and the UAE, as part of efforts to build new channels for shared economic cooperation. He noted that Dubai’s position as a global hub for finance, logistics, tourism, and innovation aligns with the province’s plans to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth that contributes to creating new jobs.

Winde added that there are promising opportunities to expand cooperation in key sectors, including renewable energy, food processing, technology, and infrastructure, along with other fields that could form a strong foundation for future partnerships between both sides.

He pointed out that Western Cape offers an attractive investment environment based on political stability, advanced infrastructure, and skilled human capital, in addition to a strong track record of successful investments. These factors, he said, strengthen the province’s position as a suitable partner for companies and investors looking to access African markets.

For his part, Salem Al Shamsi emphasized Dubai Chambers’ commitment to opening wider prospects for economic cooperation with the business community in Western Cape and South Africa as a whole. He said Dubai Chambers is focused on exploring new opportunities across diverse sectors, in a way that supports companies’ competitiveness and encourages investments that serve the shared interests of both sides.

Al Shamsi also stressed the importance of developing bilateral business links and building strategic partnerships between private sector companies. He noted that Dubai Chamber of Commerce’s leadership of a trade mission comprising Dubai companies to South Africa reflects the importance the chamber places on the South African market, which was Dubai’s fifth-largest trading partner in Africa last year.

He explained that South Africa enjoys a strong economic position and promising growth potential, making it an important partner for Dubai’s business community. Western Cape, in particular, stands out as an active economic hub with several priority sectors, led by food trade.

These efforts come as part of Dubai Chambers’ wider drive to strengthen cooperation between the business communities of Dubai and South Africa, enhance opportunities for sustainable partnerships, support mutual trade and investment growth, and help companies expand into promising markets.