KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21– The automotive, electrical and electronic (E&E) products, downstream palm oil processing, mineral processing, and technology sectors are among the potential areas for closer cooperation between Malaysia and South Africa, said Malaysian High Commissioner to South Africa, Datuk Yubazlan Yusof.
Additionally, renewable energy, specialised engineering, agriculture, and the halal economy have also been identified as areas that could be explored for collaboration during the “Doing Business with Malaysia: Enhancing Market Access and Cooperation – Malaysia as a Gateway to ASEAN” programme.
Jointly organised by the High Commission of Malaysia and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in South Africa, the programme brought together over 100 local entrepreneurs and members of the business community, alongside participation from South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Dubai.
“Malaysia and South Africa have the potential to serve as gateways to their respective regions—with Malaysia acting as an entry point into ASEAN for South African companies, while South Africa serves as a platform for Malaysian companies to explore broader markets across the African region,” said Yubazlan in his speech at the event, which was held recently.
Malaysia and South Africa established diplomatic relations in 1993. Last year, bilateral trade between the two nations reached around US$1.33 billion (US$1=RM4.04), highlighting significant potential to further expand and diversify trade relations.
“Cooperation in these aforementioned sectors not only has the potential to boost bilateral trade, but also opens up opportunities for investment, joint ventures, technology transfer, skills development and participation in regional value chains,” he said.
One of the highlights of the programme was a panel session titled “Bridging Markets, Building Partnerships – Advancing Trade Cooperation between Malaysia and South Africa”, moderated by Salim Abu Haniffa of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce – Southern Africa (MYCHAM).
The session also emphasised the importance of business-to-business (B2B) ties and long-term partnerships, while encouraging companies from both countries to view Malaysia and South Africa not merely as export markets, but as strategic gateways to the wider ASEAN and African markets.
Meanwhile, MATRADE Johannesburg Trade Counsellor Zamzuri Mohamed said opportunities for cooperation in the halal economy were also highlighted, particularly given Malaysia’s position as a global halal hub and South Africa’s experience in the halal certification ecosystem.
South African companies were also encouraged to explore participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 to expand their business networks and gain access to international markets
