Ramaphosa Calls for Deeper South Africa–Brazil Trade Ties at Brasilia Business Forum

Brasilia, Brazil – 9 March 2026

Cyril Ramaphosa has called for stronger economic cooperation between South Africa and Brazil, urging business leaders from both nations to expand trade, investment, and industrial collaboration during the Brazil–South Africa Business Forum in Brasilia on Monday.

Speaking during his state visit to Brazil, Ramaphosa highlighted the shared economic and political aspirations between South Africa and Brazil, noting that both countries are large, diverse democracies with abundant natural resources and significant human capital. At the same time, he acknowledged that both nations face deep inequality and share a determination to overcome it.

The South African president emphasized the strategic importance of partnerships through global platforms such as BRICS, India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA), the Group of Twenty (G20), and the World Trade Organization, where both countries have consistently advocated for fairer and more inclusive global trade and investment rules that better reflect the interests of the Global South.

Ramaphosa said the visit presents an opportunity to “re-imagine a world of opportunities” anchored in shared values, while working to rebalance trade by increasing and diversifying South African exports to Brazil. He also called for improvements to market access through the MERCOSUR–SACU Preferential Trade Agreement, which currently covers more than a thousand tariff lines but still has untapped potential.

According to Ramaphosa, both countries should focus on reducing trade barriers, addressing non-tariff constraints, and expanding cooperation in sectors with high economic impact. These include biofuels, defence, agro-processing, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, energy, advanced manufacturing, and automotive production. Such collaboration, he said, should also prioritize technology transfer and skills development.

A key theme of Ramaphosa’s address was positioning the two nations as gateways to their respective regions. South Africa, he noted, could serve as Brazil’s entry point into African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area, while Brazil could provide South African companies access to Latin America.

Several major companies already operate across the two economies. South African firms active in Brazil include Sasol, MTN Group, Naspers, First National Bank, Aspen Pharmacare, Grindrod, Standard Bank and AngloGold Ashanti. Brazilian firms operating in South Africa include Petrobras, Embraer and Marcopolo S.A..

Ramaphosa welcomed Embraer’s establishment of an aviation training academy at OR Tambo International Airport, describing it as an important step in developing South African aerospace talent and linking the country to global aviation value chains. He also highlighted Marcopolo’s investment in automotive manufacturing in Gauteng and the industrial presence of Brazilian engineering firm WEG, which supports South Africa’s mining, energy, and water sectors.

The president said development finance institutions such as South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation and Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa could help support a joint financing mechanism for large-scale infrastructure projects in manufacturing, transport, biofuel, and energy sectors.

Ramaphosa also underscored South Africa’s strategic position in global markets, pointing to its sophisticated financial system, well-developed legal framework, and key ports including Port of Durban, Port of Cape Town and Richards Bay Port.

He described the partnership between South Africa and Brazil as more than a trade relationship, saying both nations are “fellow architects of a more equitable international order,” particularly at a time when multilateralism faces growing pressure.

Ramaphosa concluded his address by inviting Brazilian business leaders to attend the upcoming South Africa Investment Conference in Johannesburg on 31 March 2026.

“The door to South Africa is open,” he said. “And the time to invest and grow together is now.”