The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr John Steenhuisen will undertake a working visit to Czechia, Poland and Germany from 31 August-10 September 2026 to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between South Africa and the three European countries.
In Czechia, Steenhuisen will chair the 6th session of the South Africa-Czechia Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation (JCEC). He will also meet with several businesses to advance the dtic’s investment attraction and export diversification mandate.
In 2025, Czechia was South Africa’s 9th largest trading partner within the European Union with total bilateral trade of US$1.1 billion. Czechia also maintains a growing investment presence in South Africa, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, electronic components, boat building, textiles, communication, hospitability as well as services.
There are several South African companies investing in Czechia in sectors such as food and beverages, paper, printing and packaging, financial services, plastics, transportation and warehousing, as well as software and Information Technology (IT) services.
Steenhuisen’s visit provides an opportunity for engagements with various strategic stakeholders in Czechia, aimed at diversifying and growing the share of South African exports to the Central European country; exploring potential areas for industrial cooperation; and attracting Czechia investment into South Africa’s productive sectors, such as renewable energy, defence, critical mineral beneficiation, chemical, advanced manufacturing, rail, and electrical vehicles (EVs), amongst others.
The visit is also expected to advance discussions under the Southern Africa Development Cooperation-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EU EPA); and promote Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP) projects to facilitate inward investment.
In Poland, Steenhuisen will co-chair the inaugural session of the South Africa-Poland Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) with his Polish counterpart, Mr Michał Baranowski, who is the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Technology. His programme includes government to government engagements, and business engagements through the South Africa-Poland Business Roundtable, and industry site visits.
Poland is an important economic partner for South Africa as a member of the EU. Trade between the two countries grew by 7% from US$ 1.5 billion in 2024 to US$ 1.6 billion in 2025. Poland is South Africa’s 7th largest trading partner within the EU.
The country maintains a modest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) footprint in South Africa, with investment in sectors such as electronic components, software and IT services, as well as consumer products.
There are also notable South African companies investing in Poland in sectors such as real estate, software and IT services, consumer electronics, transportation and warehousing, paper, printing and packaging, textiles, as well as business services.
Strategic engagements in Poland are expected to increase and diversify South Africa’s exports to Poland; attract Polish investment into South Africa’s productive sectors, such as renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and the automotive sector, while advancing discussions on the SADC-EU EPA; and explore potential areas for industrial cooperation in areas such as green manufacturing, mineral processing, robotics and industrial automation, tooling and precision engineering and research and development.
From Poland, Steenhuisen will proceed to Munich and Frankfurt in Germany, for the last leg of his working visit. The programme in Munich includes meeting with the Bavarian Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mr Tobias Gotthardt, meeting with key investors in South Africa, BMW and Siemens, and conducting industrial site visit to UnternehmerTUM.
In Frankfurt, Steenhuisen will have a roundtable discussion with the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, conduct industrial site visits and pay a visit to the South African National Pavillion at the Automechanika exhibition where the dtic has supported several companies to showcase their products.
Based on the 2025 trade data, Germany is South Africa`s third largest trading partner globally, after China and the United States of America (USA), and is the largest trading partner in the EU. South Africa’s bilateral trade with Germany expanded by approximately 14%, from US$ 14.3 billion in 2024 to US$ 16.5 billion in 2025.
Germany continues to be a key partner towards industrial development in South Africa through various partnerships between the dtic and the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Notably, the Global Eco Industrial Parks Partnership (GEIPP), which is aimed at harnessing resource efficiency for energy and water projects for firms located in industrial parks and special economic zones, and the Partnering in Business with Germany programme which offers capacity building for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with mentorship and international exposure, building their capacity to compete globally.
Media Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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