Bilateral talks target agriculture, automotive and digital sectors
President Cyril Ramaphosa conducted an intensive round of one-on-one engagements with prominent business figures from across the globe during the Sixth South Africa Investment Conference in Sandton on Tuesday, seeking to channel fresh capital into the country's most promising economic sectors.
The meetings, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, zeroed in on agriculture, automotive manufacturing, digital technology and the creative industries — all regarded as vital engines for broad-based economic expansion and employment creation.
Among the key discussions was a session with UPL Limited Chairman and Group CEO Jai Shroff, where the two explored ways to scale up agro-processing capacity, bolster the supply of agricultural inputs and advance climate-resilient farming practices. The envisioned partnership would see South Africa positioned as a continental gateway for agro-processing while simultaneously uplifting emerging farmers and reinforcing national food security through innovation.
"The partnership aims to position South Africa as a regional hub for agricultural inputs and agro-processing, while supporting emerging farmers and boosting food security through innovation."
The President also sat down with Videovision Entertainment's Anant Singh to discuss prospects within the creative economy. Their conversation covered investment in film studio infrastructure, the strengthening of incentive schemes for the industry and efforts to market South Africa as a world-class filming destination. The initiative is set to foster skills development, attract tourism and facilitate international co-productions, reinforcing the nation's growing reputation in film and television.
Green mobility and digital expansion take centre stage
On the automotive front, Ramaphosa engaged Toyota South Africa Motors' Andrew Kirby regarding the transition to greener transport solutions. The talks encompassed hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell technology, local battery assembly and the development of domestic component suppliers, with both sides aiming to establish South Africa as a regional frontrunner in sustainable vehicle manufacturing. A further meeting with Chery Auto's Charlie Zhang underscored this commitment, as the parties pledged to deepen cooperation in vehicle assembly, export growth and green mobility solutions designed to stimulate industrial output and create jobs.
"The collaboration is expected to accelerate SME development and strengthen the country's digital capabilities, supporting entrepreneurship and long-term economic growth."
The digital economy featured prominently on the President's agenda as well. He met with Meta Platforms' Kojo Boakye to explore the expansion of digital infrastructure, assistance for small enterprises and the scaling of digital literacy programmes. The goal is to broaden digital inclusion and cement South Africa's standing as the continent's premier innovation hub. In a related engagement, Ramaphosa held discussions with Google's Kabelo Makwane on cloud infrastructure investment, data centre development and artificial intelligence capabilities — a partnership expected to fast-track small business growth and deepen the country's technological competitiveness for years to come.
South Africa's ability to attract sustained foreign investment across agriculture, automotive, digital and creative sectors will directly influence job creation and economic resilience for millions of citizens facing persistent unemployment and slow growth. Partnerships with major firms like Toyota, Google and Meta could strengthen local supply chains, expand digital access and develop new skills pipelines, particularly benefiting small enterprises and emerging farmers. Whether these pledges translate into measurable outcomes will depend on policy consistency and implementation over the coming years.
