Published on: August 19, 2025 5:32 AM
The 2nd Pak-Africa Trade Summit was successfully held in Johannesburg followed by B2B meetings in Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town, bringing together business leaders and government representatives for meaningful dialogue on trade and investment opportunities between Pakistan and Africa. On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Pakistan SADC Chamber Trade Federation (PSCTF) and the Minara Chamber of Commerce, further strengthening institutional ties.
Following the Johannesburg conference, the Pakistani delegation visited Durban and met with local business leaders. A luncheon was hosted in their honor, where delegates underscored the need for stronger trade cooperation. Durban’s business community welcomed the initiative and pledged support for deeper commercial ties between Pakistan and South Africa.
The two-day summit, held on 12-13 August 2025 at LalQila, Sandton, was organized by PSCTF in collaboration with the Pakistan High Commission, GGDA, the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC), South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce, Minara Chamber of Commerce, CBE, and other partner organizations.
The summit was attended by high-level dignitaries including South African Deputy Minister for Social Development Ganief Hendricks, , Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Malik Farooq, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Pretoria, South African Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, Neil Pollock, Vice President, SACCI, Charles Manuel, Director Investment Promotion, Farah Khan, Trade & Investment Attaché, Pakistan High Commission, Marcus Baliso, Head of Invest SA Gauteng, Donald Mabusela, Director, DTIC along with more than 40 Pakistani delegates, senior government officials, and industry leaders.
Muhammad Rafiq Memon, Chairman of PSCTF and Chief Organizer of the Summit, welcomed delegates, called this an honor for him and his team to host the second part of this record trade summit in partnership with the Pakistan High Commission and our valued South African stakeholders. For the first time in over three decades, so many key organizations have come together to support Pakistan-Southern Africa economic ties. This is a milestone in our journey to strengthen trade and investment linkages. He reaffirmed PSCTF’s role as the premier representative body of Pakistani entrepreneurs in Southern Africa, with the vision of building robust bilateral trade between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Pakistan.
Malik Farooq, High Commissioner of Pakistan, emphasized the summit’s importance. He said that this gathering reflects the strong will of our nations to explore opportunities, deepen partnerships, and chart a new course for economic cooperation. Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Board of Investment, described South Africa as a “gateway to Africa” while positioning Pakistan as a gateway to Central Asia and China. He stressed the untapped trade potential, noting current bilateral trade stands at $200 million in Pakistani exports to South Africa and $400 million in South African exports to Pakistan. Delivering the keynote, Stella Tembisa Ndabeni Abrahams, South Africa’s Minister for Small Business Development, highlighted opportunities in agriculture, livestock, technology, power, and manufacturing. She said that “the halal market, engineering capabilities, and technological expertise of Pakistan present significant opportunities for collaboration. Our countries not only share business interests but also have strong cultural and historical ties, and this summit reflects our shared commitment to growth.
Ganief Hendricks, Deputy Minister for Social Development, praised PSCTF’s role in fostering closer relations, even suggesting that its Chairman, Mr. Rafiq Memon, could represent South Africa in Parliament for his dedication to strengthening bilateral trade. He further relayed offers from South African traditional leaders willing to provide land for Pakistani investors to establish factories.
Other notable speakers included Neil Pollock (SACCI), Rhoda Masupye (NRCS), Ngadiman Ramela (Gauteng Tourism Authority), Thabile Nkunjana (NAMC), Dr. Kenny S. Hlela (Gemini Advisory), and Donnee Kruger (TIKZN). They collectively emphasized that the summit’s success lies in PSCTF’s leadership and commitment, which brought together government ministers, business leaders, and community representatives under one platform.
