PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia and South Africa have agreed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation by positioning South Africa as Malaysia’s regional trade hub for palm oil across the African continent.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Parks Tau, on Thursday (Oct 23), ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from October 26–28, 2025.
Beyond palm oil, discussions also explored market expansion opportunities for Proton vehicles in South Africa and collaboration in the automotive and halal industries—two high-potential sectors for cross-regional development.
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“We emphasized the importance of positioning Malaysia as ASEAN’s gateway to South Africa, and conversely, South Africa as Malaysia’s gateway to the African continent,” said Tengku Zafrul in a post on X.
He added that the trade and investment relationship between the two nations holds vast potential for growth. “God willing, today’s commitments will spark even more dynamic cooperation in the future,” he remarked, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from Bernama, Monday (Oct 26, 2025).
This strategic move aligns with Malaysia’s broader vision to expand its palm oil market beyond Asia and strengthen economic diplomacy within the Global South. South Africa’s strategic location and expanding economy make it an ideal entry point for bio-based energy and sustainable palm-derived products across Africa.
The bilateral meeting took place just before the 47th ASEAN Summit, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” attended by over 30 world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
As host and ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia is leveraging the summit to highlight its strategic role as a cross-continental economic bridge—connecting Southeast Asia with Africa and Latin America through inclusive and sustainable trade partnerships. (P2)
