President Cyril Ramaphosa will today kick-off his two-day state visit in Brazil, after he arrived in the South American country on Sunday.
According to the presidency, the visit will provide an opportunity for Ramaphosa and his Brazilian counterpart, Lula da Silva, an opportunity to engage on a broad range of bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
The state visit programme will begin on Monday with an official welcome ceremony in honour of Ramaphosa in the afternoon.
Both countries share long standing diplomatic ties, historic and fraternal ties, built on friendship, shared Africa heritage, solidarity, South Cooperation and multilateralism.
“The relationship is anchored in the Declaration of Strategic Partnership that was signed in 2010 and implemented through the South Africa–Brazil Joint Commission.
The state visit will focus on enhancing diplomatic and political relations, economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
Strengthening cooperation in agribusiness, aerospace, creative industries, defence, energy, mining, science and technology, sport and tourism.
“Engaging on shared geopolitical priorities as members of the Global South, including cooperation in BRICS, IBSA, the G77+China, the G20, and the United Nations,” read a statement from the presidency.
Brazil, as the largest economy in Latin America, remains a key partner for South Africa’s engagement with the Latin America and Caribbean region.
Ramaphosa will also address a South Africa–Brazil Business Forum, aimed at promoting increased commercial collaboration.
The President will on the margins of the state visit engage with pioneering Brazilian business leaders to accelerate investments and opportunities South Africa offers.
“Bilateral trade between South Africa and Brazil reached R32.5 billion in 2025, with South African exports amounting to R5.2 billion and imports from Brazil totalling approximately R27.3 billion.
South Africa’s top exports to Brazil are chemicals, mineral products, machinery, iron and steel, and vehicles.
Brazilian exports to South Africa include mineral products, live animals, machinery, vegetables, and iron and steel products,” added the statement.
Furthermore, the presidency highlighted that Brazilian investment in South Africa spans manufacturing, services, engineering, agriculture, and aviation, while major South African companies are active in the Brazilian market in retail, pharmaceutical, extractive industry, paper, financial services and technology, and chemicals.
Tourism is an expanding area of cooperation, with Brazil ranked as South Africa’s ninth-largest source of international arrivals in 2025, supported by the resumption and expansion of direct flights between São Paulo and South Africa since 2023.
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by several ministers and a business delegation.
