Southern Africa Initiative

The Southern Africa Initiative of German Business (SAFRI) was founded in 1996.

Since its creation by the Afrika-Verein (AV), the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), SAFRI has supported many different initiatives aimed at focusing attention on the economic potential of the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and further promoting German business activities in the region.

In the early 1990s Southern Africa was still caught up in ruinous civil wars. Growth rates were marginal, national economies were isolated as a result of high customs tariffs and trade barriers, and resources in certain states were being plundered by despotic leaders. Today the region is largely at peace and undergoing a period of rapid change. In political and economic terms the individual nations have united and grown as members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

With the abolition of apartheid, the Republic of South Africa has been fully reintegrated into the international community and has used its economic power to create many new stimuli. Inflation for the region was just eight percent in 2006, while the annual growth rate climbed to a healthy four to five percent. Already new successes have joined the well-documented stories of Botswana and Mauritius.

Pragmatic economic policymaking has enabled states such as Mozambique and Zambia increasingly to attract foreign investors and develop resources. Currently the largest growth market is Angola, where the Hermes export credit guarantees granted by the German government were raised and an investment protection agreement was signed.

Contact:

Chairman:
Prof. Dr. h.c. Jürgen E. Schrempp
Contact:
Steffen Behm
T: 030 20281521