President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that Africa is not seeking handouts but meaningful trade partnerships that drive sustainable growth.
Speaking at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Japan on Thursday, he emphasised that the continent is ready to deepen global economic ties.
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“We seek partnerships in infrastructure, energy and digital development through blended finance. We also seek partnerships in financing skills development, youth innovation and small business scaling,” Ramaphosa said.
African Continental Free Trade Area as a Growth Platform
Highlighting Africa’s growing economic potential, Ramaphosa shows the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a springboard for international investment. He encouraged Japanese and other global firms to view Africa not as a market of aid recipients but as a region of shared opportunity.
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He added that in today’s climate of global instability, Africa needs relationships that promote cooperation and mutual growth. “At a time of global instability, Africa wants relationships that strengthen cooperation, not dependency,” he noted.
Diversifying Export Markets and Green Energy Opportunities
Ramaphosa also pointed to recent tariff actions by the United States as a reminder of the need to diversify export destinations.
“South Africa is a leading exporter of agricultural produce and high-quality industrial products such as auto vehicles and components. We call on our Japanese counterparts to support tariff cooperation to ease market access for African goods,” he said.
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Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged greater investment in Africa’s renewable energy sector, highlighting the continent’s vast potential to become a global green energy superpower.
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