Malaysia Eyes South Africa As Potential Hub For Palm Oil And Proton Expansion Into Africa
25/10/2025 (Business Today) - Malaysia is exploring South Africa as a potential regional hub for its palm oil exports and Proton’s automotive expansion into the African market, following a high-level meeting between Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau.
The meeting, described as highly productive, reinforced Malaysia’s position as the gateway to ASEAN and South Africa’s role as the bridge to the African continent. Both ministers discussed strengthening collaboration in key sectors, including electric vehicles (EVs), halal industry development and industrial partnerships.
Tengku Zafrul said the discussions focused on deepening trade and investment ties, particularly in areas where both countries’ strengths complement each other.
“Malaysia and South Africa share a common vision of driving inclusive, sustainable growth. We see strong potential for collaboration — from positioning South Africa as a hub for Malaysian palm oil to expanding Proton’s footprint across the continent,” he said.
He added that the cooperation would also extend to EV technology, halal certification and downstream manufacturing, paving the way for broader economic integration between ASEAN and Africa.
Both ministers agreed to establish follow-up working groups to accelerate progress in these sectors and explore new opportunities for business partnerships and technology exchange.
“This partnership is not only about trade; it’s about building a long-term, strategic bridge between ASEAN and Africa,” Tengku Zafrul said.