‘South Africa and Nigeria are giants on the continent. If AfCFTA is to thrive, then these two nations must lead by example.’
Nigeria and South Africa are taking bold steps to reinforce trade relations, spur investment, and promote intra-African commerce, done in the spirit of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),
This was reflected recently by a high-level trade mission led by WesGro, the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, which brought a robust delegation of over 12 South African companies to Nigeria. The participating firms represented key economic sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, ICT, tourism, film, and business services.
WesGro’s Head of Africa, Michael Gamwo said, this is not just about trade—it’s about long-term economic cooperation that can unlock the full potential of AfCFTA.
“South Africa and Nigeria are giants on the continent. If AfCFTA is to thrive, then these two nations must lead by example,” Gamwo said, noting that trade agreements will not succeed if businesses are not engaging, connecting, and forming productive alliances.
Gamwo explained that WesGro has been instrumental in strengthening business-to-business connections across the continent by linking companies from the Western Cape with counterparts in various African nations. In Nigeria, many South African firms are already represented by local partners—a testament to the success of past trade engagements.
“Many of our companies don’t even have to travel anymore. They’re represented here by Nigerian partners who understand the local terrain and market dynamics. That’s a clear indicator of the growing trust and synergy between our business communities,” he stated.
Gamwo extended an invitation to Nigerian entrepreneurs to visit South Africa and explore the multitude of opportunities available there. “We can only bring a limited number of companies on trade missions, which means Nigerians don’t get to see the full scope of South African offerings,” he noted. “But if you come to South Africa, we can expose you to a wider range of opportunities, especially in sectors like renewable energy and agribusiness. WesGro is ready to facilitate those connections
