One of SA`s leading distributors of computer networking products, Duxbury Networking, has thrown its weight behind the Chinese technological revolution, the fallout from which is being felt in SA in the form of increasing imports of Chinese manufactured high-technology products.
Duxbury recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement with one of China`s largest networking and allied products vendors, Huawei Technologies.
In terms of the agreement, Duxbury will actively promote Huawei`s switch/router products through its business partners - resellers and dealers - throughout the country.
Graham Vorster, Duxbury`s chief technology officer, says good relationships exist between China and SA because of the similar economic situations in the two countries. "Both are emerging markets and their economies have similar goals such as the creation of jobs and the attraction of foreign investments," he notes.
Ling Guiru, the economic and commercial councillor at the Chinese Embassy in SA, confirmed that Chinese businessmen see the local market as having significant potential.
He revealed that there is a continuous stream of Chinese companies entering SA, or doing business in this country through local representatives.
Ling says interest in SA is high - particularly since the trade agreement between the two countries confers "most favoured nation" status on each party.
Vorster says Chinese technology - particularly in the IT sector - is comparable to the best in the world and is being positively received in SA as a viable alternative to some of the established brands.
"At Duxbury we market a range of networking products to dealers and resellers throughout southern Africa. Before cementing our relationship with Huawei we subjected their products to rigorous tests and evaluations against competitive products. They came through with flying colours," he says.
This year, as at July, Chinese exports to SA reached R 8.5 billion and are well on track to break the R20 billion barrier for the calendar year. This is up from R2.4 billion in 1996.
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