South Africa: Wesgro in partnership with DHL and the Tshwane Economic Development Agency (TEDA) led a group of 24 South African companies from August 18 to 20, 2026 for a business mission to Nairobi, Kenya.
During their visit, the delegates engaged with 84 potential Kenyan buyers through targeted B2B meetings. The SA companies showcased the homeware, wine, food and beverages. They also represented ICT and automotive sectors. The meeting created new pathways for trading, market entry and commercial partnerships.
This initiative aligns with Wesgro’s strategy to unlock access to new markets and new buyers, while concentrating mainly on established markets in Africa.
Reportedly, the South Africa and Kenya Business Seminar highlighted several key opportunities and insights for businesses seeking to strengthen their presence in East Africa, such as:
- Kenya aims to be a strategic gateway for East Africa by offering South African business access to the Kenyan market and to wider regional value chains and consumers across the region.
- Building long-term relationship matters. Wesgro’s 10 years of engagement in Kenya represents strong partnerships with the Kenyan National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders. This demonstrates the value of sustained market development in unlocking trade opportunities.
- Strong bilateral economic ties are advancing new opportunities for growth. Such discussions highlight the potential for greater collaboration between South African and Kenyan businesses across multiple sectors that are supported by increasing commercial interest from both markets.
- Efficient logistics are critical to expand intra-African trade. Insights from DHL reinforced the importance of reliable supply chains. It also helps in distributing networks and cross-border logistics in African businesses to reach new customers and scale into regional markets.
- Such initiatives need market access more than the introductions. Connecting businesses with qualified buyers, industry networks and on-the-ground market intelligence remains essential to convert the opportunities into long-term commercial outcomes.
Furthermore, the programme also included an official visit to cargo facility of DHL at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This provided delegates a first-hand insight into the logistics infrastructure that support trade flows into Kenya and the broader East African region.
Wesgro is the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, marketing the destination at global level. It continues to connect South African companies with opportunities to grow more across Africa and beyond through sustained system-scale partnerships, market intelligence and targeted trade facilitation.