By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Western Cape premier Alan Winde concluded his 10-day official visit to the United States of America (USA), describing it a productive visit.
Winde held high level engagements with key government and private sector stakeholders in Washington D.C., Atlanta, and New York City.
He said that despite recent challenges between South Africa and the US, the Western Cape has longstanding, robust relationships with various US states.
“We have got to make sure that this market is retained. We have a strong agricultural link with the US, a strong tourism and foreign direct investment link with the US, and we’ve got to make sure that the Western Cape’s voice is heard in the negotiations.”
Winde said the province’s relationship with the US had garnered more than R15.5 billion in trade.
“It is also a key market for foreign direct investment. In the last ten years, more than R33 billion in FDI coming into the Western Cape. This has to be protected and also we have to make sure we continue with it.”
The US is the province’s second-largest export market, with Western Cape exports totaling over R18,32 billion in 2024 – a 2.66% increase from the previous year. The Western Cape now accounts for over 50% of South Africa’s total agriculture and agri-processing goods to the United States.
Winde briefed a gathering of business leaders, hosted by the Water Resilience Coalition, on lessons the province learned from “Day Zero”, in which Cape Town and the Western Cape were able to avoid disaster from a severe drought.
He also joined the Under2 Coalition Global Ministerial, where he serves as co-chair representing the African continent. The regional organisation is made up of 183 states and regions leading on climate action.
Winde also signed up to the Subnational Methane Action Coalition with a focus on landfill management to reduce this harmful gas, responsible for approximately 10% of the province’s greenhouse gas emissions.