South Africa An Important Investment, Trade Partner -- Tengku Zafrul

By M. Saraswathi

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- Trade and investment ties with the African Union, particularly South Africa, are a priority, said the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

“South Africa was Malaysia’s largest trading partner in Africa in 2024, and as the biggest foreign investor from the African Union, we hope this close relationship continues to flourish and deliver mutual benefits for our peoples and nations,” he posted on social media.

In 2024, South Africa was Malaysia’s largest trading partner on the African continent, with total bilateral trade valued at RM7.82 billion (US$1.71 billion).

Malaysia’s exports to South Africa amounted to RM3.84 billion (US$840 million), while imports stood at RM3.98 billion (US$870 million).

Tengku Zafrul said the MADANI Government always values the contributions of Malaysians abroad as envoys who play a vital role in expanding networks and enhancing Malaysia’s standing on the global stage.

“I have taken the opportunity to share the nation’s aspirations during official visits to Ethiopia and South Africa, with a primary focus on MITI’s core mission to boost trade and investment.

“This is the time for us to further elevate Malaysia’s position on the world stage. Our country recorded robust gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, and we are on the right track to achieve the 2025 growth target of 4 to 4.8 per cent,” he said.

For the first nine months of 2025, Malaysia has attracted RM285.2 billion in approved investments, with foreign investment (FI) accounting for 52.9% of that total.

Tengku Zafrul is part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s delegation currently on a tour of three African countries — Ethiopia, South Africa and Kenya — from Nov 18 to 24, 2025.

Anwar was invited to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as a guest of the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, in Malaysia’s capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2025.

From Johannesburg, the delegation, which also includes Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Malaysian government officials and a business delegation, will continue their journey to Nairobi, Kenya, from Nov 23 to 24, before returning to Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA