South Africa and the European Union have held the inaugural Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP) business to government dialogue on Tuesday.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Alexandra Abrahams opened the Business-to-Government Dialogue.
“The Clean Trade and Investment Partnership marks a strategic evolution in the South Africa–EU economic relationship. The EU [European Union] remains one of South Africa’s largest trading partners with total trade growing by 56% since 2016 and, through this mutually beneficial partnership, we will continue to deepen our relationship,” she said.
The CTIP is a partnership between the EU and South Africa aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investment in clean supply chains.
It was endorsed on 20 November 2025 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Ramaphosa.
Through strengthened cooperation between the EU and SA industries and governments, the CTIP aims to improve the trade and investment climate to unlock EU public and private investment, including maximising the impact of Global Gateway financing.
The Deputy Minister said the partnership will expand trade volumes while reshaping value chains.
“It will align decarbonisation with industrialisation, and investment with local economic development, ensuring that South Africa participates as an industrial partner in clean supply chains rather than as a supplier of raw materials. As we move into implementation, our focus is to mobilise bankable investment, address regulatory and market access constraints, and ensure that clean trade translates into economic growth and sustainable job creation,” she explained.
Deputy Director General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, Maria Martin-Prat said that there are enormous mutual trade and investment opportunities in “our clean supply chains.”
“Look at South Africa’s ambition to reform its electricity sector and construct approximately 14,500 km of new transmission lines in the next decade – the scale of opportunity is immense. To turn ambitions into reality, we will need three things. Firstly, we need companies ready to invest in these supply chains.
“European firms, with their cutting-edge technology and expertise in clean solutions, have a clear comparative advantage in supporting South Africa’s green transition. Secondly, while private investment will drive this transformation, Global Gateway funding can play a catalytic role by reducing risk and crowding in capital.
"Thirdly, we need a conducive regulatory business environment for these investments to scale and reach their full potential. This is what the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership is all about, and where we need your input,” she said.
The dtic said the first CTIP Business-to-Government Dialogue which was organised in the context of the Africa Energy Indaba, was well-attended by over 150 representatives from industry, financial institutions and policymakers.
The Business-to-Government dialogue showcased the demand-driven nature of the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership.
Industry representatives shared their views on the concrete regulatory, financing and risk-mitigation measures that would most effectively facilitate trade and investments in South African and EU clean supply chains. These recommendations will be discussed by South African and the EU government representatives, including at the CTIP Government to Government dialogue later this year.
At a trilateral meeting held ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in November last year, President Ramaphosa, together with President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed the deepening of the South Africa–European Union partnership.
The leaders welcomed the signature of the CTIP, noting that it will create new trade and investment opportunities while supporting decarbonisation objectives through a tailored, flexible and targeted approach that reflects shared priorities. -SAnews.gov.za
