The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) in collaboration with the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) launched the Eastern Cape Natural Ingredients Export Promotion Strategy at the InvestSA One Stop Shop Eastern Cape in East London yesterday, 25 October 2025.
Launched at a Natural Ingredient Export Training and Mapping Exercise attended by stakeholders such as producers, as well as representatives from the public and private sectors, the strategy aims to increase the province’s natural ingredient exports by 25% over the next three years — from R4,2-million to R5,25-million.
The strategy outlines a focused plan to support Eastern Cape producers by enabling entry into at least five new international markets, securing a minimum of 15 new product certifications, and engaging and training over 100 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the export value chain.
Target export markets include North America — particularly the United States and Canada — as well as the United Kingdom, Europe, and Switzerland, where demand for organic and sustainable products continues to grow. Additionally, the strategy identifies strong opportunities in Asia, driven by rising consumer interest in health and wellness. Key Asian markets include Japan, China, South Korea, and India.
ECDC Trade Promotion Specialist Linda Lubengu says the strategy is designed to boost the export of natural ingredients from the Eastern Cape by identifying international opportunities, positioning local producers as global suppliers, and helping them overcome market access barriers. The Eastern Cape’s natural ingredients include aloe ferox, honeybush, rosemary, hemp, rose geranium, artemisia afra, African sage, and honey, among others.
…the strategy is designed to boost the export of natural ingredients from the Eastern Cape by identifying international opportunities, positioning local producers as global suppliers, and helping them overcome market access barriers.
For the 2025/26 financial year, the focus will be on a province-wide mapping exercise to better understand the needs of producers, provide market intelligence, and prepare them for export readiness. Once this groundwork is completed, producers will be supported in promoting their products in selected international markets.
International trends toward alternative and natural health remedies — especially in cosmetics and healthcare — present a timely opportunity for the Eastern Cape to expand its exports of natural products. The province’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity offer high-value, sustainable resources for development, research, and conservation.
Also see: From the Eastern Cape to Bombay: Eastern Cape businesses go global at Anuga Select India 2025
