Inaugural Macau - SA Trade and Investment Seminar
South African Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau
20 March 2026
The Inaugural Trade and Investment Seminar was held on 18 March 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Macao. The seminar, hosted by the South African Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao, focused on strengthening trade and investment relations between South Africa and the region.
The event brought together business leaders and industry experts to explore investment opportunities, trade partnerships, and the promotion of South African products and services. Key discussions included market access, trade regulations, and the potential for collaboration across various sectors such as technology, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The seminar highlighted the commitment of the South African government to enhancing its presence in Asia and building lasting relationships with the Macao and Hong Kong business communities. Mr Leon Naidoo, former diplomat, consultant, and businessman, outlined key trade opportunities between South Africa and Macao.
Speaking on behalf of the Consulate, Consul: Political and Economic, Stella Sigcau, noted that the global investment map is being redrawn, with supply chains shifting, energy transitions accelerating, and global dynamics evolving. She emphasised that capital is increasingly seeking stability, investment security, and sustainable returns.
She further highlighted South Africa’s key economic priorities, including infrastructure development at scale, referencing a R1 trillion investment drive aimed at unblocking rail and port systems to ensure efficient movement of goods and predictable logistics for investors. In addition, she pointed to the establishment of a R20 billion per year Transformation Fund to broaden economic participation and support sustainable growth. This, she explained, is complemented by clear sectoral opportunities in critical minerals beneficiation, renewable energy supply chains, agro-processing for export, and digital platforms driven by a young and urbanising population—anchored by a macroeconomic framework committed to credibility and the rule of law.
The discussions were robust, with a clear consensus emerging that both South Africa and Macao are committed to deepening business ties and enhancing bilateral trade and investment opportunities. This includes leveraging the Greater Bay Area and expanding access to African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Key outcomes of the seminar included plans for a Trade Mission to South Africa, as well as a Trade and Investment Conference to be facilitated by the Consulate later in the year.
South Africa is open, willing, and committed. It is being rewired and repositioned as a competitive investment destination, aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s investment drive.
Let us build pipelines—not just pledges—and translate them into plants, grids, cables, and jobs.
Welcome to South Africa’s next investment chapter.