Cyril Ramaphosa calls for industrialization through regional trade and infrastructure

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for increased regional self-reliance and strategic infrastructure investment to bolster industrialization in Southern Africa.

Speaking at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 46th SADC Summit, Ramaphosa emphasized that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) possesses the necessary resources, markets, and technology to build a prosperous region. He noted that current intra-regional trade stands at less than a quarter of the combined total trade, leaving economies vulnerable to global disruptions. He argued that the region must move away from its reliance on external markets and colonial-era infrastructure designed for raw material export, instead utilizing its own energy, land, and mineral resources to manufacture goods internally.

In a separate address to the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), Ramaphosa stated that South Africa’s massive infrastructure investment program must serve as a catalyst to rebuild the nation’s industrial base. He urged that investments in transmission lines, railways, ports, and water systems be leveraged to expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply chains, and create jobs. He warned against the continued erosion of the industrial sector, citing challenges such as logistics constraints, high electricity costs, and growing import competition.