The growing interest among farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses in Mpumalanga in China’s zero-tariff policy has highlighted the province’s potential to use expanded access to the Chinese market to stimulate agriculture, create jobs and strengthen local value chains.
More than 150 farmers, business owners, entrepreneurs, government representatives and other stakeholders attended the Mpumalanga China Zero-Tariff Seminar at the Nooitgedacht Agriculture Development Centre in Ermelo on 15 August 2026.
Hosted by Baobab Ubuntu Media, in partnership with Khanyisa News, Stokvel TALK and
Inner City Gazette, the seminar brought together stakeholders to discuss how the trade
opportunity can be translated into real business activity on the ground.
One of the guest speakers, Dr Gideon Chitanga, said the strong turnout demonstrated that there
is already significant interest in Mpumalanga in exploring the benefits of the zero-tariff
arrangement.
“The seminar made it clear that there are many people across Mpumalanga who are interested in
exploring the benefits of zero tariff. It is also clear that the majority of small and medium-sized
enterprises should not be left behind,” said Chitanga.
He said the policy offers SMEs a unique opportunity to leverage trade with China, particularly in
agriculture and other products that have the potential to reach the Chinese market.
According to Chitanga, the opportunity could help rejuvenate the agricultural sector while
contributing to employment creation across the wider agricultural value chain.
“Zero tariff provides a unique opportunity for SMEs to participate in trade with China. We
believe this can contribute to revitalising agriculture, creating employment and opening
opportunities along the entire agricultural value chain,” he said.
The message was particularly relevant for Mpumalanga, a province with a strong agricultural
base and a large number of farmers and rural communities whose livelihoods depend on the
sector.
Another key speaker, Dr Moshe Makoka, focused on the practical realities of accessing the
Chinese market, stressing that businesses need to understand the policy and meet the
requirements governing qualifying exports.
He highlighted the importance of rules of origin, certification, product standards and
documentation, reminding participants that zero tariffs do not remove the responsibilities
attached to international trade.
The seminar therefore encouraged businesses to look beyond the removal of tariffs and focus on
becoming export-ready.
Agriculture could be a major beneficiary
Agriculture emerged as one of the sectors with the greatest potential to benefit from improved
access to the Chinese market.
Priority opportunities identified include citrus, avocados, macadamia nuts, vegetables, fruit
products and agro-processing, although businesses will still need to meet the specific
requirements applicable to their products.
The opportunity also extends beyond the export of raw agricultural products. Speakers said
Mpumalanga could use the new trading environment to expand agro-processing and value
addition, allowing more of the economic benefits to remain within the province.
This could include investment in processing plants, packaging, cold storage, logistics and other
services needed to move agricultural products from farms to international markets.
For smallholder farmers and township businesses, speakers also highlighted the potential role of
co-operatives, aggregation centres and export partnerships in helping smaller producers
overcome challenges relating to volume, consistency and market access.
Modernising agriculture
Dr Makoka and other speakers stressed that taking advantage of the opportunity will require
more than simply identifying products for export.
Mpumalanga will need to strengthen production capacity, agricultural technology,
infrastructure, finance, skills and compliance with international standards.
Agricultural modernisation could include improved irrigation, mechanisation, climate-smart
farming, cold-storage facilities, precision agriculture and modern processing infrastructure.
These investments could help producers improve productivity while also creating new
opportunities for businesses providing services across the agricultural supply chain.
The seminar highlighted the fact that international trade can create opportunities far beyond the
farmer.
Transport companies, warehouses, packaging businesses, financial institutions, customs
specialists, logistics providers, marketers and quality-control services can all become part of the
export ecosystem.
SMEs must not be left behind
A central concern raised during the discussions was ensuring that the zero-tariff opportunity does
not benefit only established exporters and large corporations.
Chitanga said SMEs must be supported to understand the market and prepare themselves for
participation.
The message was echoed in discussions around business compliance, with Siphiwe Phakathi
from the Msukaligwa Local Economic Development Department encouraging local enterprises
to put their documentation and business affairs in order.
For smaller businesses, this could be the first step towards becoming part of a much larger
international value chain.
The seminar also highlighted the importance of youth participation, particularly in agriculture,
technology, logistics, digital marketing and other sectors that support international trade.
From policy to practical opportunities
The event also featured representatives from the Chinese Embassy, including Zhu Liang,
Deputy Director of the Press Section, and Zhou Bin, First Secretary of the Commercial
Section.
The Chinese representatives provided participants with an overview of the broader China-South
Africa relationship and the zero-tariff initiative, while also giving local businesses an opportunity
to engage directly on questions surrounding trade and market access.
For Baobab Ubuntu Media, the seminar was intended to take the conversation beyond policy
announcements and help communities understand what the new trading environment could mean
for local economic development.
The organisers believe Mpumalanga has an opportunity to position agriculture and small
business at the centre of a new phase of China-Africa economic cooperation.
The challenge now is to ensure that farmers, entrepreneurs and SMEs have the information,
infrastructure, finance and support needed to take advantage of that opportunity.
The zero-tariff policy may open the door, but the real economic impact will depend on what
Mpumalanga businesses do next.
