BRICS trade welomed
South Africa’s Cabinet has welcomed the outcomes of the 18th BRICS Summit, which reaffirmed the grouping’s commitment to building a more inclusive and representative international system while advancing cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure financing and sustainable development.
The summit was held in New Delhi, India, from 12 to 13 September under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security”.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the summit had strengthened cooperation among BRICS members in areas critical to global economic development.
Discussions at the summit covered trade and investment, local-currency transactions and cross-border payments, infrastructure financing through the New Development Bank, digital cooperation, climate resilience and food security.
For South Africa, Ntshavheni said the outcomes were significant because they supported the country’s objectives of accelerating industrialisation, expanding market access, attracting investment and promoting greater value addition to critical minerals.
“These priorities can strengthen local production, create opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs, support job creation and ensure that greater value is derived from the country’s natural resources,” she said.
China opens market to South African cherries
Cabinet has also welcomed the opening of the Chinese market to South African cherry producers following the signing of a market-access protocol between the two countries on 8 September.
The protocol gives South African cherry producers access to the Chinese market for the first time. It was signed by agriculture minister Wille Aucamp and General Administration of Chinese Customs minister Sun Meijun during the ninth Sanitary and Phytosanitary Ministerial Meeting in Beijing.
Ntshavheni said the agreement would give South African cherry producers access to one of the world’s largest cherry markets, creating opportunities to expand agricultural exports and attract investment in local production.
China imported about 586,900 tonnes of cherries, valued at US$3.3 billion (about R52.8 billion), in 2025.
The minister said the opening of the market was expected to stimulate investment in South Africa’s cherry industry and create about 600 new jobs.
“The development forms part of broader [government] efforts to expand South Africa's agricultural exports and diversify international markets. It also coincides with the implementation of China's zero-tariff scheme for qualifying South African products, which came into effect on 1 May 2026,” Ntshavheni said.
