The growing interest among farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses in Mpumalanga in China\u2019s zero-tariff policy has highlighted the province\u2019s potential to use expanded access to the Chinese market to stimulate agriculture, create jobs and strengthen local value chains.
\nMore 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.
\nHosted by Baobab Ubuntu Media, in partnership with Khanyisa News, Stokvel TALK and
\nInner City Gazette, the seminar brought together stakeholders to discuss how the trade
\nopportunity can be translated into real business activity on the ground.
\nOne of the guest speakers, Dr Gideon Chitanga, said the strong turnout demonstrated that there
\nis already significant interest in Mpumalanga in exploring the benefits of the zero-tariff
\narrangement.
\n\u201cThe seminar made it clear that there are many people across Mpumalanga who are interested in
\nexploring the benefits of zero tariff. It is also clear that the majority of small and medium-sized
\nenterprises should not be left behind,\u201d said Chitanga.
\nHe said the policy offers SMEs a unique opportunity to leverage trade with China, particularly in
\nagriculture and other products that have the potential to reach the Chinese market.<\/p>\n
According to Chitanga, the opportunity could help rejuvenate the agricultural sector while
\ncontributing to employment creation across the wider agricultural value chain.
\n\u201cZero tariff provides a unique opportunity for SMEs to participate in trade with China. We
\nbelieve this can contribute to revitalising agriculture, creating employment and opening
\nopportunities along the entire agricultural value chain,\u201d he said.
\nThe message was particularly relevant for Mpumalanga, a province with a strong agricultural
\nbase and a large number of farmers and rural communities whose livelihoods depend on the
\nsector.
\nAnother key speaker, Dr Moshe Makoka, focused on the practical realities of accessing the
\nChinese market, stressing that businesses need to understand the policy and meet the
\nrequirements governing qualifying exports.
\nHe highlighted the importance of rules of origin, certification, product standards and
\ndocumentation, reminding participants that zero tariffs do not remove the responsibilities
\nattached to international trade.
\nThe seminar therefore encouraged businesses to look beyond the removal of tariffs and focus on
\nbecoming export-ready.
\nAgriculture could be a major beneficiary
\nAgriculture emerged as one of the sectors with the greatest potential to benefit from improved
\naccess to the Chinese market.
\nPriority opportunities identified include citrus, avocados, macadamia nuts, vegetables, fruit
\nproducts and agro-processing, although businesses will still need to meet the specific
\nrequirements applicable to their products.
\nThe opportunity also extends beyond the export of raw agricultural products. Speakers said
\nMpumalanga could use the new trading environment to expand agro-processing and value
\naddition, allowing more of the economic benefits to remain within the province.
\nThis could include investment in processing plants, packaging, cold storage, logistics and other
\nservices needed to move agricultural products from farms to international markets.<\/p>\n
For smallholder farmers and township businesses, speakers also highlighted the potential role of
\nco-operatives, aggregation centres and export partnerships in helping smaller producers
\novercome challenges relating to volume, consistency and market access.
\nModernising agriculture
\nDr Makoka and other speakers stressed that taking advantage of the opportunity will require
\nmore than simply identifying products for export.
\nMpumalanga will need to strengthen production capacity, agricultural technology,
\ninfrastructure, finance, skills and compliance with international standards.
\nAgricultural modernisation could include improved irrigation, mechanisation, climate-smart
\nfarming, cold-storage facilities, precision agriculture and modern processing infrastructure.
\nThese investments could help producers improve productivity while also creating new
\nopportunities for businesses providing services across the agricultural supply chain.
\nThe seminar highlighted the fact that international trade can create opportunities far beyond the
\nfarmer.
\nTransport companies, warehouses, packaging businesses, financial institutions, customs
\nspecialists, logistics providers, marketers and quality-control services can all become part of the
\nexport ecosystem.
\nSMEs must not be left behind
\nA central concern raised during the discussions was ensuring that the zero-tariff opportunity does
\nnot benefit only established exporters and large corporations.
\nChitanga said SMEs must be supported to understand the market and prepare themselves for
\nparticipation.
\nThe message was echoed in discussions around business compliance, with Siphiwe Phakathi
\nfrom the Msukaligwa Local Economic Development Department encouraging local enterprises
\nto put their documentation and business affairs in order.<\/p>\n
For smaller businesses, this could be the first step towards becoming part of a much larger
\ninternational value chain.
\nThe seminar also highlighted the importance of youth participation, particularly in agriculture,
\ntechnology, logistics, digital marketing and other sectors that support international trade.
\nFrom policy to practical opportunities
\nThe event also featured representatives from the Chinese Embassy, including Zhu Liang,
\nDeputy Director of the Press Section, and Zhou Bin, First Secretary of the Commercial
\nSection.
\nThe Chinese representatives provided participants with an overview of the broader China-South
\nAfrica relationship and the zero-tariff initiative, while also giving local businesses an opportunity
\nto engage directly on questions surrounding trade and market access.
\nFor Baobab Ubuntu Media, the seminar was intended to take the conversation beyond policy
\nannouncements and help communities understand what the new trading environment could mean
\nfor local economic development.
\nThe organisers believe Mpumalanga has an opportunity to position agriculture and small
\nbusiness at the centre of a new phase of China-Africa economic cooperation.
\nThe challenge now is to ensure that farmers, entrepreneurs and SMEs have the information,
\ninfrastructure, finance and support needed to take advantage of that opportunity.
\nThe zero-tariff policy may open the door, but the real economic impact will depend on what
\nMpumalanga businesses do next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The growing interest among farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses in Mpumalanga in China\u2019s zero-tariff policy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international"],"yoast_head":"\n