France and South Africa Deepen Trade Ties; Billions in Investment Pledged

Thirty French companies pledged roughly EUR 1.11 billion at South Africa’s 6th Investment Conference in Johannesburg in March, a figure that set the tone for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s official visit to France from July 10 to 12.

At the heart of that visit was a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders mapped out expanded cooperation across investment, defence, science and technology, and cultural exchange. For South African citizens, the stakes are direct: French firms are expected to participate in what Ramaphosa described as the country’s largest mass infrastructure build in its history, alongside other major economic initiatives.

“France is a key strategic partner for South Africa, and we enjoy longstanding bilateral cooperation spanning trade and investment, energy, defence, education, people-to-people exchange and other fields,” Ramaphosa said on Friday. He added that the economic relationship continues to strengthen, pointing to the EUR 1.11 billion in pledges (equivalent to ZAR 20.7 billion) as evidence of growing confidence among French businesses in South Africa’s economic trajectory.

Several formal agreements are currently under negotiation. These include an Agreement on Transport Related Matters, a Cooperation Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, and a Draft Declaration of Intent on Mobility. Once concluded, these frameworks would govern areas where both countries see mutual benefit, giving citizens clearer rules of the road on cross-border movement and shared infrastructure.

Meanwhile, science and technology cooperation has emerged as a cornerstone of the partnership. France recently became the 14th full member of the Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO), an intergovernmental organisation in which South Africa plays a central role. A Joint Committee Meeting on science, technology and innovation identified priority areas as Artificial Intelligence, oceans and marine sciences, and soil health and water. Ramaphosa said the collaboration supports “innovation-led growth and environmental sustainability,” outcomes with long-term consequences for public health, food security and resource management.

Defence ties are also being refreshed. The two countries committed to convening the 13th Defence Strategic Dialogue, a meeting described as long overdue, scheduled to take place in South Africa in October. The dialogue will assess implementation of the existing Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and explore additional areas of collaboration.

Cultural exchange rounds out the agenda. Ramaphosa stressed that France and South Africa are working to develop their respective creative industries through joint programming, cooperation he said carries significance for growth, transformation, social cohesion and job creation in both countries.

Beyond the bilateral agenda, Ramaphosa used the Paris platform to speak to broader public concerns. He named trade tensions, armed conflicts, pandemics, poverty and unemployment as interconnected challenges no single country can resolve alone. “Multilateralism is the most effective means for addressing these collective global challenges. No country can resolve these issues in isolation,” he said, calling for renewed commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

On the sidelines of the visit, Ramaphosa co-chaired a Leaders Group meeting of the High-Level Steering Committee on Education alongside UNESCO Director-General Professor Khaled El-Enany, and attended the Transforming Education Summit +4, a gathering focused on systemic reform in public education globally.

Whether the infrastructure pledges, the science partnerships and the defence dialogue translate into tangible improvements for ordinary South Africans will depend on how quickly the agreements under negotiation are finalised and implemented. Further details on South Africa’s diplomatic engagement are available at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/south-africa-reaffirms-commitment-strengthening-relations-france.