South africa: South Africa and the European Union have held the inaugural Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP) business-to-government dialogue on Tuesday. Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Alexandra Abrahams, opened the dialogue, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership in evolving the economic relationship between South Africa and the EU.
According to South African Government News Agency, the CTIP is a collaboration between the EU and South Africa focused on enhancing bilateral trade and investment in clean supply chains. The partnership, endorsed on 20 November 2025 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to strengthen cooperation between industries and governments, improving the trade and investment climate to unlock EU public and private investment.
Deputy Minister Abrahams emphasized that the partnership will expand trade volumes and reshape value chains, aligning decarbonisation with industrialisation, and investment with local economic development. The initiative seeks to position South Africa as an industrial partner in clean supply chains rather than merely a supplier of raw materials. The focus will be on mobilising bankable investments, addressing regulatory and market access constraints, and ensuring clean trade translates into economic growth and sustainable job creation.
Maria Martin-Prat, Deputy Director General at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, highlighted the significant trade and investment opportunities in clean supply chains. She pointed to South Africa's plans to reform its electricity sector and construct new transmission lines as an example of the immense opportunities available. Martin-Prat outlined three key components needed to turn ambitions into reality: investment-ready companies, Global Gateway funding to reduce risks, and a conducive regulatory business environment.
The first CTIP Business-to-Government Dialogue was organised within the Africa Energy Indaba and attended by over 150 representatives from industry, financial institutions, and policymakers. The dialogue underscored the demand-driven nature of the partnership, with industry representatives sharing views on regulatory, financing, and risk-mitigation measures to facilitate trade and investment in clean supply chains.
A trilateral meeting ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit last November saw President Ramaphosa, European Council President Ant³nio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirm their commitment to deepening the South Africa-EU partnership. They noted that the CTIP would create new trade and investment opportunities while supporting decarbonisation objectives.