China looks to increase presence in SA, help tackle youth unemployment

China has been making significant strides in increasing its presence in South Africa by creating more job opportunities and helping to tackle the country's youth unemployment crisis. With 56 Chinese companies currently operating in South Africa, the country has benefitted from around 30,000 direct jobs. Through the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association, 73 South African youths have already received job training and employment with Chinese companies, and the plan is to expand that number to 238 new training opportunities and internships. In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, China's Ambassador to South Africa, Lin Songtian, discussed the importance of this partnership and the commitment to supporting South Africa's economic development. Ambassador Lin highlighted the significance of vocational technical education in bridging the job crisis gap and emphasized the long-term sustainability of the job opportunities being created by Chinese investors in the country. This partnership comes at a crucial time for South Africa, which is facing challenges such as a decline in primary outputs and a shortage of electricity. With China offering expertise in infrastructure development and a strong commitment to cooperation, the potential for economic growth and job creation in South Africa looks promising.