By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the partnership between South Africa and Brazil as key to advancing inclusive growth and development in the Global South.
Ramaphosa arrived in the Brazilian capital on Sunday at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the two-day visit taking place from 9 to 10 March 2026.
South Africa and Brazil share longstanding diplomatic ties anchored in the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed in 2010, which is implemented through South Africa–Brazil Joint Commission.
The State visit programme began with an official welcome ceremony in honour of Ramaphosa at the Palácio do Planalto.
Ramaphosa said the visit presents an opportunity to deepen economic ties and rebalance trade by increasing and diversifying South African exports to Brazil.
“This visit presents us with an opportunity to re-imagine a world of opportunities anchored by our shared values and vision. As Team South Africa, we are keen to rebalance our trade by growing and diversifying South African exports to Brazil,” the President said.
The visit come amid growing geopolitical tensions and increasing calls among developing economies for greater strategic autonomy.
Lula said, In South America, we present ourselves as a region of peace. No one has a nuclear bomb, no one has an atomic bomb. So, we think of defence as deterrence, “he said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that Brazil currently has stronger capabilities in defence, but said cooperation between the two nations could create opportunities for knowledge exchange and joint development.
Lula called for both nations to combine industrial and technological capacity to build weapons systems domestically, reducing dependence on international defence manufacturers.
“We need to combine our potential and see what we can produce together, build together. We don’t need to keep buying from foreign arms suppliers, “Lula said
Both Brazil and South Africa are key members of the BRICS grouping, alongside China, Russia, and other emerging economies. The bloc has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for Global South cooperation in trade, development, and security.
Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of improving market access through the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market), noting that expanding the agreement’s product coverage could unlock greater trade opportunities.
He identified several sectors with strong potential for industrial cooperation between the two countries. These include biofuels, defence, agro-processing, aerospace, energy, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry.
The President said collaboration in these areas should include technology transfer and skills development to support industrial growth in both economies.
Ramaphosa said South Africa aims to position itself as Brazil’s gateway into African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area, while Brazil could serve as South Africa’s gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lula noted that the bilateral trade has remained below its potential for two decades.
South Africa’s exports – mainly chemicals, mineral products, machinery, iron and steel, and vehicles – totalled R5.2 billion, while imports from Brazil amounted to R27.3 billion.
Brazilian investment in South Africa spans manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, aviation and services, while major South African companies operate in Brazil’s retail, pharmaceutical, extractive, financial and technology sectors.
Tourism has also grown, with Brazil ranking as South Africa’s ninth‑largest source of international arrivals last year, supported by the expansion of direct flights between São Paulo and South Africa.