dtic to host a public webinar on Block Exemptions for Promotion of Exports
Intelligence Summary
The dtic and Competition Commission are hosting a webinar to explain the Block Exemption for the Promotion of Exports, which legalizes certain collaborative activities among exporters. This is a policy clarification that could enable South African companies to form consortia for international bids without competition law concerns, potentially enhancing their competitiveness. For domestic procurement, the impact is indirect but may affect suppliers who also export.
Why This Matters for Procurement
Procurement teams and bidders who export goods or services need to understand the exemption to legally collaborate with competitors on export tenders, which could open new market opportunities and reduce legal risks.
Key Points
- The Block Exemption for the Promotion of Exports, promulgated in 2025, allows South African exporters to collaborate legally in export markets without breaching competition law.
- The dtic and Competition Commission webinar on 31 August 2026 aims to clarify permitted collaborative activities, which could reduce legal risks for exporters and industry associations.
- Export-oriented sectors, export councils, and industry associations should monitor the webinar to understand how to structure joint export initiatives, potentially leading to more competitive bidding in international markets.
- The exemption may encourage SMEs to participate in export consortia, improving their access to large tenders abroad, but they must ensure compliance with the exemption's conditions.
Industry Impact
The Block Exemption for the Promotion of Exports was promulgated in 2025, and the webinar is to clarify its application, effectively changing the legal framework for exporter collaboration.
Industry-Wide Effect
This policy change could foster greater collaboration among South African exporters, improving their global competitiveness and potentially leading to increased export revenue. It may also set a precedent for other sectors to seek similar exemptions, influencing the broader regulatory environment for procurement and competition.
Affected Sectors
Affected Provinces
Affected Organs of State
Supplier Opportunity Signal
Suppliers in export-oriented sectors should attend the webinar to learn how to form consortia or joint ventures for international tenders, potentially increasing their capacity to bid on larger projects. They should also monitor for any subsequent guidance or regulations that may affect their domestic procurement activities.
Risk / Compliance Signal
Companies must ensure that any collaborative activities under the exemption strictly adhere to the conditions set out in the Block Exemption to avoid breaching competition law, which could lead to penalties or debarment.
From the Original Source
Excerpt reproduced for context. Tenders SA analysis is based on this public source. Read the full article at SAnews.gov.za.
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