• Ramaphosa tours Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia to deepen ties
• Agreements span trade, defense, energy, and strategic partnerships
• Trip aims to offset weak growth, high unemployment, U.S. tariffs
  

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa completed a diplomatic tour of Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia from Wednesday, Oct. 22, to Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, aimed at forging strategic partnerships with the three Southeast Asian nations.

During his visit to Indonesia on Oct. 22, both countries expressed a desire to collaborate across trade, agriculture, tourism, and defense. They also discussed expanding political and economic ties through existing bilateral frameworks.

Ramaphosa then traveled to Vietnam for a two-day visit, where the two nations agreed to elevate their relationship to a "strategic partnership." Ramaphosa described the decision as a "decisive step" in bilateral relations.

"This visit forms part of a broader effort to strengthen South Africa’s engagement with Southeast Asia, a region of growing strategic importance," he added. The two parties committed to deepening cooperation in sectors including justice, mineral and petroleum resources, and biodiversity conservation. Vietnam’s expanding consumer market presents promising opportunities for South African exporters as the country seeks to diversify its trade destinations.

Finally, the South African president visited Malaysia from Oct. 24 to 27 at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for a working visit. Ramaphosa participated in a bilateral meeting and attended the 47th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related summits. It was Ramaphosa’s first official visit to Malaysia since becoming president in 2018.

In a joint statement, Johannesburg and Kuala Lumpur highlighted the untapped economic potential between the two nations. They agreed to strengthen trade and investment ties by facilitating business participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, and forums. Malaysia specifically expressed its intention to increase palm oil exports to South Africa. The leaders also agreed to explore opportunities for joint ventures, technology transfer, and capacity building to promote sustainable growth in that sector.

This diplomatic push comes as South Africa faces significant socio-economic and trade challenges. The economy is struggling with weak growth, estimated by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) at 0.8% for the second quarter of 2025, largely due to a persistent energy crisis. The World Bank reported that the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 reached 62.2% in the second quarter of 2025, and the poverty rate is expected to hit 68.1% in 2025.

Additionally, increased U.S. tariffs, according to the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), could lead to the loss of an estimated 100,000 jobs, particularly in the agricultural and automotive sectors.

In this context, the country is actively seeking to diversify its partnerships and reduce its dependence on Western markets. This effort to strengthen ties is part of South Africa’s wider economic diplomacy strategy, which focuses on accessing high-growth regions and promoting inclusive, sustainable development.

According to the International Trade Center (ITC), South Africa’s trade with Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia totaled $1.3 billion, $1.7 billion, and $1.6 billion respectively in 2024.

Lydie Mobio