Cyril Ramaphosa has said the continent is seeking partners who understand sustainable development and mutual industrialization

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on global partners, particularly Japan, to shift from aid-based engagement to investment-focused collaboration with Africa.

Speaking at the plenary session on the economy at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Ramaphosa said Africa is ready to shape its future amid a rapidly evolving global landscape.

"Africa is not seeking aid. It is seeking partners. Partners that understand value co-creation, sustainable development, and mutual industrialisation," he said, drawing strong reactions from delegates attending the high-level summit.

Ramaphosa stressed that Africa, and South Africa in particular, is responding to global economic uncertainties, the transformation of trade patterns, and the rise of new industrial revolutions with bold reform and strategic intent. He outlined how South Africa was modernising its economy to attract and sustain foreign investment.

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"We have stabilised our energy supply and are modernising our infrastructure. We are opening ports and rail to private sector investment," he said, noting that these reforms are aimed at supporting South Africa's re-industrialisation agenda centred on localisation, green energy, and regional integration.

Ramaphosa also highlighted South Africa's expanding manufacturing base, particularly in electric vehicles, green hydrogen, health products, and digital infrastructure. These sectors, he said, offer opportunities for investors who are looking for sustainable and scalable partnerships.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) featured prominently in his speech. Ramaphosa called it "central to our economic vision," and positioned South Africa as a gateway for Japanese and global firms to access the growing African market.

"We are actively working with the AfCFTA Secretariat to finalise value-chain protocols in automotive, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and textiles," Ramaphosa said. He added that efforts are underway to harmonise rules of origin and upgrade border infrastructure to enable efficient trade.

In a thinly veiled reference to recent US tariff hikes on African goods, Ramaphosa warned of the dangers of over-reliance on single markets and underscored the importance of diversifying trade partnerships.

"We call on our Japanese counterparts to support tariff cooperation to ease market access for African goods," he said. Ramaphosa also reiterated South Africa's commitment to creating a conducive investment environment and called for partnerships in financing infrastructure, digital transformation, skills development, and youth innovation.

Through his remarks, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa's long-standing push to promote investments over aid-a message he has consistently stressed in engagements with international partners. "Let us work together not as donors and recipients, but as equal partners building a prosperous future," he said.

First published by IOL