Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in South Africa, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
the dtic, InvestSA and SARS: the guide’s first stops, of the 18 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Get advice
Trade and industry ministry
the dtic
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Runs export support, trade agreement and special economic zone programs, including an Export Support Desk for exporters.
Visit the dtic (opens in a new tab)Source: the dtic, Export Support Desk notice, 8 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 8, 2026
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
InvestSA
Assigns an official to each investor and coordinates government approvals through One Stop Shops.
Visit InvestSA (opens in a new tab)Source: InvestSA, One Stop Shop page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
SARS
South African Revenue Service
Registers exporters, clears customs declarations, issues certificates of origin and publishes trade statistics.
Visit SARS (opens in a new tab)Source: SARS, exporter registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
2. Export development and market information
4 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Trade and industry ministry
the dtic
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Runs export support, trade agreement and special economic zone programs, including an Export Support Desk for exporters.
Visit the dtic (opens in a new tab)Source: the dtic, Export Support Desk notice, 8 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 8, 2026
- Find finance
Export credit agency
ECIC
Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd
Provides political and commercial risk insurance to South African exporters of capital goods and related services.
Visit ECIC (opens in a new tab)Source: ECIC, export credit insurance product page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Research markets
National statistics office
Stats SA
Statistics South Africa
Publishes the consumer price inflation rate and other national statistics.
Visit Stats SA (opens in a new tab)Source: SAnews, Stats SA consumer price inflation, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2026
- Research markets
Regional community secretariat
SADC
Southern African Development Community Secretariat
Regional body
Hosts the SADC agreement, tariff data and statistics yearbook that exporters in the region can consult.
Visit SADC (opens in a new tab)Source: the dtic, African regional integration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
5 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
InvestSA
Assigns an official to each investor and coordinates government approvals through One Stop Shops.
Visit InvestSA (opens in a new tab)Source: InvestSA, One Stop Shop page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Company registry
CIPC
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission
Registers companies and intellectual property rights and keeps searchable company records.
Visit CIPC (opens in a new tab)Source: CIPC, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration ministry
Home Affairs
Department of Home Affairs
Handles visa and residence applications, including the business visas that the dtic recommends.
Visit Home Affairs (opens in a new tab)Source: InvestSA, invest page, setup steps (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Merger and competition regulator
Competition Commission
Competition Commission South Africa
Reviews mergers that meet the thresholds for competition effects and public interest grounds.
Visit Competition Commission (opens in a new tab)Source: Competition Commission, merger filing page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Find finance
Development finance institution
IDC
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
Provides development finance for industrial projects across South Africa.
Visit IDC (opens in a new tab)Source: IDC, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Customs and tax
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
SARS
South African Revenue Service
Registers exporters, clears customs declarations, issues certificates of origin and publishes trade statistics.
Visit SARS (opens in a new tab)Source: SARS, exporter registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Border control authority
BMA
Border Management Authority
Manages border control at ports of entry, including agricultural biosecurity and port health.
Visit BMA (opens in a new tab)Source: BMA, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Customs union secretariat
SACU
Southern African Customs Union Secretariat
Regional body
Serves the customs union of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, which negotiates trade agreements as a bloc.
Visit SACU (opens in a new tab)Source: the dtic, trade agreements page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
4 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Trade control commission
ITAC
International Trade Administration Commission
Issues export permits for controlled goods, free of charge, and handles tariff and import control applications.
Visit ITAC (opens in a new tab)Source: ITAC, export control frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Perishable export certifier
PPECB
Perishable Products Export Control Board
Inspects and certifies perishable produce for export and administers the eCert phytosanitary platform.
Visit PPECB (opens in a new tab)Source: PPECB, eCert page, effective 1 October 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 1, 2025
- Meet requirements
Product safety regulator
NRCS
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications
Approves products against compulsory specifications and serves as the competent authority for frozen marine product exports to the European Union.
Visit NRCS (opens in a new tab)Source: NRCS, imports and exports page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Agriculture ministry
Agriculture Department
Department of Agriculture
Handles the plant and animal health matters behind export certificates, including foot-and-mouth disease control.
Visit Agriculture Department (opens in a new tab)Source: SAnews, new FMD control measures, 25 June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 25, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Business federation
BUSA
Business Unity South Africa
Speaks for business in policy and legislative development and works with government on matters of national interest.
Visit BUSA (opens in a new tab)Source: BUSA, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
SACCI
South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Promotes trade and investment and speaks for business, including start-ups and small companies, to government.
Visit SACCI (opens in a new tab)Source: SACCI, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare South Africa with other countriesSet South Africa beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your South Africa project.
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Promote:South Africa is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.