South Africa and Kenya have pledged to deepen trade, investment and industrial cooperation, with Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and William Ruto calling for greater economic integration to accelerate Africa’s development.
Speaking at the South Africa-Kenya Business Forum in Johannesburg on June 4, the two leaders stressed that Africa’s economic future depends on stronger regional value chains, improved infrastructure and increased intra-African trade.
President Ramaphosa said trade between the two countries has grown by an average of 3.5 per cent annually since 2022. He noted that Kenyan firms have invested about US$283 million in 11 projects in South Africa, while South African companies have committed more than US$2 billion to 96 projects in Kenya.
The South African leader highlighted ongoing cooperation in infrastructure development, digital innovation, agriculture and technology transfer, and said both governments are working to remove barriers to trade and investment.
President Ruto described Kenya and South Africa as key economic anchors on the continent and urged African nations to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He called for the development of integrated regional value chains across sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, pharmaceuticals, energy and digital services.
The two leaders also identified opportunities for collaboration in automotive manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, steel, chemicals and mining, while emphasizing the need to strengthen food security and create jobs through industrialization.
South Africa regards Kenya as a strategic partner in East Africa, while Kenya remains South Africa’s largest trading partner on the continent outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The two countries have signed several agreements covering trade, agriculture, education, tourism, transport, defence, water and sanitation.