Macau a New Market for South African Products
SACG – Hong Kong
5 November 2026
The South African Consulate accredited to Macau and Hong Kong hosted a productive 2nd Trade and Investment Seminar in Macau on 2 November 2026. The seminar, which was attended by various stakeholders from South Africa, Hong Kong and Macau, sought to explore ways to strengthen bilateral economic relations between Macau and South Africa.
China–South Africa economic relations have entered a new phase, with increased emphasis on industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, infrastructure development and investment-led partnerships. This was reinforced in February 2026 through the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity (CAEPA), establishing a framework for expanding bilateral trade and investment while strengthening cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, technology and new energy.
During his speech, Consul General Mojalefa Mogono stated that the seminar was therefore well timed to capitalise on the momentum created by CAEPA while advancing both South Africa’s and Macau’s investment priorities.
Consul: Political and Economic, Ms Stella Sigcau, stated during her welcome remarks that the seminar created a platform to engage, collaborate and forge strategic partnerships, as well as explore opportunities for Macau and South Africa to develop further business relations, including bilateral trade, market access and investment opportunities.
Ms Ruby Swigelaar, Senior Manager: Foreign Direct Investment at Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape province in South Africa, established as a public entity under the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency Act of 1996, stated during her presentation that this mission was essential in positioning the Western Cape as a preferred destination for Chinese investment.
She highlighted opportunities in Food and Beverage, primary agriculture (including agro-processing), and the promotion of investment opportunities across the Western Cape’s Food and Beverage, logistics and tourism infrastructure sectors. These included engaging Macau companies to explore opportunities in manufacturing, assembly, logistics, regional headquarters and tourism infrastructure, as well as promoting the Western Cape as a strategic gateway into African markets through the AfCFTA.
Her presentation also included an overview of the Western Cape’s value proposition, sector-specific investment opportunities, South Africa’s investment environment, incentive framework and market access opportunities, as well as Wesgro’s investor support services and collaboration with InvestSA and other partners.
The presentation also served to create awareness of the Western Cape as an investment destination and identified opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, tourism infrastructure and agri-tech.
The session was followed by a panel discussion moderated by former Consul: Political and Economic in Hong Kong, turned businessman, Mr Leon Naidoo.
Chairman of the Association of Macau, Mr Li Jiexing, emphasised in his speech the importance of direct product trade, tourism linkages and cooperation through leveraging the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
He thanked the Consulate for its tireless efforts to enhance business relations between South Africa and Macau, adding that the association would continue to cooperate with the Macao SAR Government's policies, fully leverage its role as a "super-connector", and continue to promote economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, African countries and other parts of the world.
The outcomes of the seminar included trade missions to South Africa by business delegations from Macau and a trade mission to Macau by a South African business delegation, as well as further trade and investment engagement.