Acting High Commissioner of Republic of South Africa visits RCCI

WNAM REPORT: The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) had the honor of hosting Mr. Rudolph Pierre Jordaan, Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa, at the Chamber.
RCCI President Mr. Usman Shaukat, along with Senior Vice President Mr. Khalid Farooq Qazi and Vice President Mr. Fahad Barlas, warmly welcomed the distinguished guest. Members of the Executive Committee and a large number of RCCI members also attended the meeting.
During the session, President Usman Shaukat shared details of the Chamber’s key initiatives and activities aimed at strengthening business and trade linkages. He presented key trade data and expressed hope for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, green energy, and tourism.
RCCI President Usman Shaukat emphasized the need for more frequent high-level exchanges between Pakistan and South Africa to further enhance trade and investment ties, encourage technical cooperation, and promote skill development initiatives. He stressed the importance of fostering greater bilateral and multilateral connectivity to unlock the full potential of economic relations.
He noted that South Africa remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in Africa, accounting for almost one-fourth of Pakistan’s total trade with the continent, while South Africa’s exports to Pakistan represent nearly 10% of its total exports to Asia.
In his presentation, Mr. Pierre Jordaan highlighted the strong and historic bilateral relations between South Africa and Pakistan, which date back to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1994. The Acting High Commissioner shared an overview of South Africa’s key investment and export opportunities, focusing on priority sectors such as renewable energy, mining equipment, automotive manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and tourism. He underlined South Africa’s status as the most industrialized economy in Africa and its preferential access to major global markets through multiple trade agreements.
Mr. Jordaan invited Pakistani businesses to explore joint ventures and investment opportunities in emerging areas, including green hydrogen, natural gas, critical minerals, and new energy vehicles (NEVs). The meeting concluded with an interactive discussion on trade facilitation and potential business partnerships, followed by the exchange of mementos.