Paris: Deputy President Shipokosa Paul Mashatile has engaged with South African and French businesses during a Roundtable Breakfast Dialogue hosted by MEDEF International in Paris.
According to South African Government News Agency, MEDEF is France’s largest business federation, representing over 750,000 companies, from SMEs to large multinationals. It plays a central role in promoting French economic diplomacy, supporting private sector development, and facilitating international investment and trade relationships.
The Business Dialogue serves as an important platform for businesses from both countries to expand on existing cooperation and identify new areas of collaboration, with a specific focus on trade and investment. During his address, Deputy President Mashatile highlighted the South African Government’s commitment to spending more than R940 billion on infrastructure over the next three years. This funding aims to revitalise roads, bridges, dams, waterways, ports, and airports, thereby powering the economy.
Moreover, the Deputy President emphasized the opportunities for investors to collaborate with the South African Government by investing in infrastructure such as ports, rail, electricity, and manufacturing. This collaboration aims to improve local value-addition and boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Additionally, the Deputy President referenced the European Union-SA Summit, which took place in Cape Town in March 2025, where an EU investment package of approximately R90 billion was announced to support investment projects in South Africa.
Mashatile also met with Thierry Deau, Group CEO of Meridiam and Chairperson of the Global Long-Term Infrastructure Investors Association. Meridiam is a global investment firm specialising in public infrastructure, with assets under management exceeding £12 billion, focusing on long-term investments in transport, energy, social infrastructure, and environmental projects, all committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
During their meeting, Mashatile and Deau discussed the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including infrastructure investors, policymakers, and academia, as being crucial for promoting responsible and long-term private capital deployment in public infrastructure. The Deputy President expressed confidence that South Africa and France can achieve new heights of prosperity through strengthening their economic links and encouraging closer cooperation.