About Us
The South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC)
The South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC) is a non-profit company established as a Public Private Partnership between South African business and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to facilitate the export growth and internationalisation of its members.
The SAEEC acts as the official voice between government and the industry and is a neural gateway into the Continent for international organisations in the Electrotechnical sector wishing to locate their operations in Africa.
Activities of the SAEEC include:
- Identifying and creating export opportunities for our members
- Providing market research and logistical support
- Engaging Government support for marketing, promotion, trade and investment initiatives, for which we assist in obtaining subsidies
- Leveraging DTI export incentive and financial schemes, some of which are exclusive to SAEEC members.
- Initiating and managing targeted inward and outward buying trade missions
- Organising regular export workshops and seminars
- Advocating for the removal of barriers to trade
- Building a brand for the South African Electrotechnical sector
- Marketing and promoting our sector and members
- Assisting with government export incentives
- Accessing and providing professional export training
The Engineering and Technology Grouping of Export Councils
The SAEEC is a member of the cluster referred to as the Engineering and Technology Grouping of Export Councils (ETGES) which comprises South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), International Steel Fabricators of Southern Africa (ISF), Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa (STEASA), Built Environment Professionals Export Council (BEPEC) and the African Rail Industry Association (ARIA).
This grouping of export councils has a reach of over one thousand South African national and multinational companies, through its membership base and that of its associated industry bodies. The grouping advocates on behalf of their members to government, multilateral institutions and other relevant bodies both in South Africa and internationally.
Benefits of Becoming a Member
Promotion and Branding in InternationAL Markets
- The inclusion of the SAEEC member logo on all documentation and electronic media.
- Branding of your institution on SAEEC marketing collateral including website and members directory.
- Opportunity to display or provide your marketing collateral for the SAEEC to distribute at their stand where there is an SAEEC pavilion and your company is unable to attend.
Trade Leads and Trade Facilitation
- Members receive information on trade Leads as provided by the dti Foreign Economic Representatives located in forty seven countries around the world.
- SAEEC provides members with linkages to relevant officials at South African Missions (High Commissions and Embassies) abroad.
- SAEEC members have exposure to members of related international organisations with whom the SAEEC have signed Memorandum of Understandings such as the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA) and Le Syndicat National des Enterprises de Sous-traitance Electronique (SNESE) - France.
- Through the coordinated assistance of relevant government departments, receive assistance with unlocking Non-Tariff Barriers to trade especially for exporters into the SADC region and the rest of Sub Saharan Africa.
- SAEEC facilitates engagements between members and key export related stakeholders such as the Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC).
- SAEEC acts as a neural gateway for international companies and organisations considering partnerships or wishing to source goods and services from South African companies in this sector.
Assistance with Participation at Events and Exhibitions
- Invitation to sector focused workshops hosted by the SAEEC and delivered by various experts from both inside and outside of South Africa (e.g. workshops on Government Funding Schemes, Trade Remedies and Support, Doing Business with WorldBank and African Development Bank, ICT/Telecoms and Power Projects in Africa).
- Invitation to attend accredited Export Training (e.g. on Incoterms - International Contracts, Trade Agreements and Rules of Origins).
- Exposure to SAEEC membership base through networking and collaboration at SAEEC workshops, training sessions and Annual General Meeting.
- Assistance with applications for funding to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to attend Trade Missions and Exhibitions.
Representation at Various Forums (Government and Private Sector)
- The dtic initiated the formation of Export Councils as industry bodies that will provide a platform for interaction between the dtic and local companies. Additionally the Electrotechnical Sector has been identified as a focus sector in the Industrial Policy Action Plan 2016/2017.
- On behalf of members motivate goods and services that would benefit from designations and localisation through the Public procurement process.
- SAEEC represents the sector in general and its constituent membership base at various forums as and when required by Government and the Private Sector.
Our Members
Our members are South African registered companies that manufacture and provide products and related services in the Electrotechnical sector namely: Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Information Technology and Telecommunications.
Our member companies conform to global standards and are partners of choice in enabling Africa to meet the needs of Africa.
Important Statistics
The South African Electrotechnical sector has a local value of US$58 billion and employs around 280,000 people (2017 study by Analytix for the dti-Electrotechnical Sector Desk). The sector comprises electrical engineering, electronics, information technology and telecommunications. The sector covers a diverse range of products and services that each contributes directly to the sector itself as well as the broader manufacturing and value-added technology sector in South Africa. The dtic estimates that the industry contributes in the region of 12,5% to South African gross domestic product (GDP).