China-South Africa Export Brand Joint Expo: Strengthening Trade Ties

The 2025 China (South Africa) Intermediate Goods Trade Export Brand Joint Expo, known as the South Africa Joint Expo, officially opened on September 23 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Serving as a national-level economic and trade cooperation platform, the expo brings together enterprises, government representatives, and trade associations to strengthen China-South Africa ties and explore new business opportunities in Africa.

Purpose and Organizers

The expo is jointly organized by the South Africa Joint Expo Organizing Committee, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce. Its primary objectives are to:

•              Deepen China-South Africa economic and trade coordination

•              Implement the “2025–2029 South Africa-China Trade and Investment Cooperation Program”

•              Provide a high-level platform for Zhejiang enterprises and other Chinese companies to explore African markets

Exhibition Highlights

•              Scale: Nearly 12,000 square meters of exhibition space, marking a record high

•              Participants: Close to 400 enterprises from eight Chinese provinces—including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong—and representatives from 38 cities. Additional participants came from Hong Kong SAR, Vietnam, Dubai, and other regions.

•              Zhejiang Showcase: 69 “Quality Zhejiang Products” enterprises occupied 100 booths, highlighting the province’s manufacturing strengths

•              Significance: The expo has become a strategic gateway for Chinese enterprises entering Africa

Notable Speakers

•              Mayor Zhang Jian (Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province): Highlighted Jinhua’s strategic role in the Belt and Road Initiative

•              Khulekani Mathe (CEO, Business Unity South Africa): Shared insights on the prospects of China-South Africa trade cooperation

•              Zhang Chaoyang (President, South African Chinese Economic and Trade Association): Discussed bilateral business opportunities

•              Elias Monage (Chairman, Black Business Council of South Africa): Explored cooperative development directions

Strategic Impact

The South Africa Joint Expo represents a practical example of China and South Africa collaborating to promote inclusive growth. It provides a strategic entry point for Zhejiang enterprises into African markets, contributes to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthens economic and trade cooperation between China, South Africa, and the wider African continent.