Event report
Back To | 5th France–South Africa Business Forum brings business and government leaders together in Johannesburg
The 5th France–South Africa Business Forum brought French and South African business leaders, investors, government representatives and industry stakeholders together in Johannesburg on 29 September 2026 to examine opportunities for investment, trade and cooperation between the two countries.
Organised by Business France, the French South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FSACCI), the French Embassy and the French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCEF), the Forum provided a platform for discussions on South Africa’s economic outlook, investment environment and role within the wider region. The programme combined high-level discussions with sector-focused roundtables, technical workshops, an Innovation Contest and targeted B2B meetings.
The Forum opened with discussions on South Africa’s position in the global economy, followed by a focus on governance, transparency and the rule of law as factors influencing investment decisions. Speakers also examined South Africa’s potential as a regional investment hub and the opportunities for companies seeking to expand across Southern Africa.
The programme then moved into sector-specific discussions covering finance and investment, water and sanitation, waste management, industry and economic sovereignty. These sessions considered practical challenges and opportunities, including investment flows between France and South Africa, infrastructure resilience, industrial development, automation and digitalisation.
The afternoon programme focused on practical issues affecting investment and business development. Technical workshops addressed the investment environment, ports, rail and intelligent supply chains, skills development and job readiness, and industrial decarbonisation. These discussions reflected the need to balance economic competitiveness with infrastructure requirements, skills development and the transition towards lower-carbon production.
Innovation also formed part of the programme, with an Innovation Contest providing a platform for entrepreneurs and emerging businesses. The contest concluded with a prize-giving session before the Forum moved into an afternoon networking programme.
The event brought together representatives from government and the private sector, including the Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, the Deputy Minister of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, John Steenhuisen, as well as representatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation and KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. Business speakers represented sectors including finance, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, transport, water, pharmaceuticals and technology.
Beyond the formal programme, B2B meetings and networking sessions gave participants an opportunity to engage directly with potential partners and explore areas for future cooperation. The Forum therefore combined strategic discussions with practical opportunities for businesses to develop relationships and identify areas for collaboration.
The 5th France–South Africa Business Forum highlighted the breadth of the economic relationship between the two countries and the opportunities for further cooperation across investment, infrastructure, industry, skills, logistics, in
