ABSTRACT
Southern Africa, Africa and the South form the regional axes of South Africa’s post-apartheid foreign policy. While the management and resolution of conflict represents one crucial aspect of this policy, it is partnered with a desire to play a leadership role through the promotion of an ambitious agenda for regional and continental development. South Africa’s decision to embark on an export-led growth strategy is reinforcing the importance of African markets for its economy. South Africa’s large share of private capital flows and the size of its economy make it potentially an important source of investment into neighbouring countries. The South African government has been active in developing positive trade and development agendas for African states, Southern African Development Community and least-developed countries. South African trade officials have sought to give substance to South-South cooperation through the promotion of special trading arrangements, with Brazil to the west, India and China to the east and the rest of Africa to the north.
