Ways in which South Africa could increase its exports?

Question

Any suggestions? It's an economic geography question, which means we're doing economics as a section in geography. So both approaches would be applicable.

Answer 1

Keep (the exchange rate of) the South African Rand weak, so the international market will find South African goods to be a bargain and will buy more.

Since this is a geography class, here is the first possible answer that comes to my mind: All else constant (eg., ignoring environmental costs), locate factories closer to ports, so transportation costs are less. The less costs are reflected in the lower prices of the goods to be exported. As above, the international market will find South African goods to be a bargain and will buy more.

Answer 2

Since it is an economic geography question, the foremost things would be:

1. Improve transportation within Africa and out of Africa as in improvemnt of ports, docks, etc.

2. Produce better products like better qality raw material. This can be don eby improving irrigation, fertilisers, better labour, etc.

3. Reduce duties, taxes, etc. on export of goods.

4. Produce surplus goods so that they have sufficient to export, after meeting the domestic demand.

5. Advertise in the foreign market, aggressively and offer better deals.

Answer 3

1) improve the electricity supply

2) develop new markets for products that South Africa can be a market leader, or has special resources.. so mebbe processing its natural resources.. adding value to its exports

3) stablilise the positon of agriculture.. other African countries, especially Zimbabwe have demonstrated that simple soluitons don't work (transferring farm land from white ownership to balck owndership often has a devastating affect on agricultural production (both in terms of cash crops as exports, or as domestic supply to reduce the imports of foodstuffs.

3) create a tax regime which encourages production and export of goods and services

4) improve the education of the population (through better school provision, improved highr education, attempt to encourage edcuated people from fleeing South Africa

Answer 4

sell their products cheaper than anyone else.

They have to 1st offer something that is demanded by other countries.  I believe they have many products that fit the bill.  I believe they have a big mining industry.

Second, they have to offer their products at a competitive price.  So one way would be to figure out how to cut production cost to be able to sell their products for less.  

Another way that comes to mind, is by devaluating their currency so that is cheaper for other countries to buy their products.