South Africa's trade with other African countries had risen almost seven-fold in the last 15 years, and although the trade balance was still in South Africa's favour, there had been an increase in imports from other African countries, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Wednesday.

In prerecorded statement at the African Dialogue conference, hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry in Johannesburg, Motlanthe noted that the increase in imports from Africa was an "encouraging development" for inter-regional trade.

He added that by establishing South Africa as a regional commercial centre would make it less expensive for other African nations to raise capital through the open market, and to get access to global financiers.

"As government, we firmly believe that South Africa's destiny is indeed intertwined with the destiny of our continent, and that is why South Africa is now one of the biggest investors in sub-Saharan Africa."

However, Africa's economic growth was currently being driven by extractive industries, with the growth rates in oil exporting and mineral rich countries outpacing all others, by a substantial margin.

"To sustain the current growth trend, African economies must use the windfall gained from the commodity boom to improve the value-added production capacity in their economies, to build and rehabilitate essential infrastructure, and to invest in critical social sectors, including health, education and skills."

Motlanthe added that the role of investment in these sectors could not be over-emphasised when speaking around the reduction of poverty, and the promotion of economic growth on the continent.

Meanwhile, he stated that in the face of the global economic crisis, Africa was looking at finding additional trade partners among the emerging power houses, and were looking to establish trade and investment cooperation arrangements with India and South America.

He added that Africa's ability to initiate these agreements was not surprising, as the continent had a "tremendous future and offered tremendous opportunities for investors".