France and South Africa Strengthened Trade Ties
Business leaders and officials aim to leverage industrial partnerships to drive cross-border economic growth.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in International Trade
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Deputy Minister John Steenhuisen hosted the 5th France-South Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg to foster deeper industrial collaboration. The event focused on converting bilateral trade opportunities into concrete investments and local value chains.
Why it matters
The forum seeks to formalize economic corridors between the two nations, providing operators with clearer pathways for scaling exports and accessing European technology. It aligns with broader national efforts to turn private pledges into active industrial projects.
French companies currently operate 480 establishments in South Africa, supporting nearly 100,000 local jobs. This follows R20.7 billion in new investment pledges made by 30 firms during the 2026 investment conference, including a R2 billion commitment from Soufflet Malt.
The players
John Steenhuisen
Deputy Minister representing the South African government in the pursuit of industrial and economic partnerships.
Soufflet Malt
An international malting company that has committed R2 billion to a new facility in the Gauteng province.
The details
The forum facilitated discussions between institutions and investors centered on corridor development, a strategy intended to streamline regional integration. By prioritizing local value chains, the partnership aims to move beyond simple trade and toward integrated industrial production. Recent activity includes specific infrastructure projects like the new Soufflet Malt facility in Gauteng, which serves as a model for utilizing foreign capital to bolster domestic manufacturing capacity.
Timeline
Bilateral trade between South Africa and France reached 3.2 billion Euros in 2024.
French firms pledged R20.7 billion in investments during the 2026 investment conference.
The 5th France-South Africa Business Forum was held on September 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
This forum extends the strategic goals established during the 2026 South Africa Investment Conference, which solicited substantial capital for national development. It highlights a shift toward deeper, project-based industrial integration rather than mere bilateral trade volume.
Operators in the industrial and manufacturing sectors should monitor the development of these economic corridors for potential supply chain and export opportunities. Watch for future updates on how these pledges translate into procurement contracts and regional expansion mandates.
The takeaway
The transition from investment pledges to operational facilities like the Soufflet Malt plant signals a shift toward tangible industrial integration. Track these large-scale investments to identify emerging infrastructure corridors that may lower logistics or production costs for your own operations.
Further reading
For more on evolving global economic partnerships, visit the International Trade section.
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