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South Africa, Italy move to deepen agricultural trade and investment partnership South Africa and Italy are seeking to strengthen agricultural trade, investment and technology cooperation, as the two countries move to deepen economic ties through a new partnership aimed at unlocking opportunities across the agricultural value chain. Speaking at the inaugural South Africa-Italy Agribusiness Forum, currently underway in Cape Town, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the relationship between the two countries had evolved beyond traditional trade and was entering a new phase focused on investment, innovation, agro-processing and job creation. Steenhuisen said the relationship between two countries is already built on strong commercial foundations. Agricultural trade between South Africa and Italy currently exceeds R650 million annually, with South Africa maintaining a positive agricultural trade balance and horticultural exports alone valued at approximately R190 million. “These figures tell an important story. They demonstrate that Italian consumers and businesses already recognise the quality of South African agricultural products. But they also suggest that we are only scratching the surface of what is possible. “The real opportunity lies not simply in exporting more fruit, nuts and other agricultural products, but in combining South Africa's production strengths with Italy's world-renowned expertise in processing, packaging, technology and branding to create greater value across the entire supply chain,” Steenhuisen said. The two-day forum, taking place on 9 and 10 June 2026, brought together business leaders, innovators and policymakers from both countries to explore new opportunities for investment, technology exchange and market access. Held under the theme: “South Africa and Italy Building Resilient, Value-Added Agri-Business Partnerships: From the Soil to the Shelf”, the forum aims to advance economic development through international collaboration and promote sustainable growth within the agricultural sector. Steenhuisen said South Africa's strategic position as a gateway to African markets, coupled with the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), made the country an attractive partner for Italian investors seeking access to one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets. He noted that South Africa and Italy possess complementary strengths that could support the development of integrated agricultural value chains spanning production, processing, logistics, technology, and retail. The Minister highlighted opportunities for collaboration across several provinces. In the Western Cape, he said partnerships could be expanded in wine production, citrus and fisheries industries, food processing, and packaging technologies. He said in Limpopo, where avocados, citrus, mangoes and nuts are driving agricultural growth, there are clear opportunities to work with regions such as Sicily, Calabria and Campania, which have developed sophisticated industries around fruit processing and Mediterranean crop systems. “Whether through avocado oil production, fruit pulp processing, citrus value addition or export partnerships, there is considerable scope to build integrated value chains that create more value on both sides,” the Minister said. He also noted that Mpumalanga's macadamia and horticultural industries could benefit from Italian expertise in orchard technologies, precision agriculture, smart irrigation systems and advanced packaging solutions. Similar opportunities exist in the Eastern Cape's dairy and livestock industries, the grain-producing provinces of the Free State and North West, and KwaZulu-Natal's sugar, forestry and subtropical fruit sectors. “What emerges from this picture is not simply a trade relationship. It is the possibility of building integrated value chains that connect farms, processors, logistics providers, researchers, technology companies and retailers across both countries. This is exactly the kind of economic partnership we should be striving for,” Steenhuisen said. The forum also focused on expanding cooperation in agricultural research, biosecurity and innovation. Steenhuisen said stronger collaboration between South Africa's Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Italy's Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) could help accelerate innovation, improve plant and animal health systems and strengthen resilience against emerging agricultural threats. Framework for long-term cooperation A key outcome of the forum is expected to be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South Africa and Italy. The agreement will provide a framework for long-term cooperation in areas including agricultural mechanisation, digital agriculture, agro-processing, technology transfer, extension services, seed development, soil health, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The MoU will also establish a Joint Working Group tasked with ensuring that commitments made by both countries translate into practical projects and measurable outcomes. Steenhuisen said the partnership would support South Africa's objective of increasing value addition in the agricultural sector and help create jobs by expanding processing and manufacturing opportunities linked to agriculture. “This forum is about far more than increasing trade volumes. It is about creating the commercial relationships, investments and technology exchanges that will enable both our countries to move further up the value chain,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za GabiK Tue, 06/09/2026 - 12:08 0
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