South Africa and Vietnam Ink Landmark Agricultural MoU at G20 Summit: Unlocking New Trade Horizons and Strategic Partnerships
In a significant boost for South Africa’s farming community, the country has sealed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vietnam to deepen ties in agriculture, opening doors to one of Asia’s booming markets. Signed on Friday, 21 November 2025, by Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the deal came just ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. This pact not only builds on recent trade wins, like a surge in orange exports, but also forms part of a broader upgrade in bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. As leaders from around the world gathered, the agreement highlights South Africa’s push to grow its export footprint, create jobs in rural areas, and strengthen food security links across continents.
The MoU focuses on practical areas like crop growing, pest control, livestock farming, animal health services, research, tech sharing, and trade. It aligns with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for ministers to act fast on market access, following Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s recent trip to Vietnam. For everyday South Africans in farming towns, this could mean more income from exports and stronger links to global buyers, helping to tackle challenges like unemployment and climate risks.
The Signing Ceremony: A Step Forward in Diplomatic Relations
The agreement was inked during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre. Deputy Minister Capa represented South Africa, while Deputy Minister Hiep signed for Vietnam, marking a quick follow-up to Steenhuisen’s visit three weeks earlier. That trip was part of Ramaphosa’s state visit to Vietnam, where talks laid the groundwork for closer cooperation.
Steenhuisen described the partnership as one built on trust and shared goals for sustainable farming that drives growth and cements friendly relations. “This agreement strengthens our strategic presence in Asia and supports our mission to broaden market access for South African producers,” he said. The timing at the G20 underscores South Africa’s role in using global platforms to advance African interests, with Vietnam showing strong support for the continent’s voice in international forums.
This MoU is not just about agriculture—it’s tied to a full upgrade of ties between the two nations to a Strategic Partnership, as announced in a joint statement. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, attending the G20, met with Ramaphosa and other leaders, agreeing to ease trade barriers, open markets for farm goods, and boost investment. Chinh expressed hopes for South Africa to back Vietnam’s inclusion in the G20, highlighting mutual benefits in areas like coffee production and processing.
Key Areas of Cooperation: From Crops to Tech Transfer
The MoU covers a wide range of farming activities to help both countries grow stronger together. It includes working on crop production to improve yields and quality, plant protection to fight pests and diseases, and animal husbandry to boost livestock health and output. Veterinary services will see joint efforts to prevent animal illnesses, while research and development aim to share new ideas and innovations.
A big focus is on technology transfer, where South Africa can learn from Vietnam’s advances in rice farming and aquaculture, and Vietnam can benefit from South Africa’s strengths in citrus and wine. Agricultural trade is at the heart, with plans to cut barriers and increase exports. This builds on existing links, like South Africa’s maize, apples, pears, and grapes already finding buyers in Vietnam.
Beyond the MoU, the strategic upgrade opens doors in other sectors. During Chinh’s G20 meetings, leaders discussed improving conditions for trade and investment, including specific cooperation in coffee—Vietnam is a top producer, while South Africa has growing demand and processing needs. This could lead to joint ventures, helping South African farmers tap into Vietnam’s expertise and markets.
Trade Milestones and Future Potential: Oranges Lead the Way
South Africa’s farm exports to Vietnam have already seen impressive growth, showing the real potential of this partnership. In May 2024, Vietnam opened its doors to South African oranges after a bilateral deal, and the results have been swift. In the 2024 season, 53,311 fifteen-kilogram cartons were shipped, jumping to 209,569 cartons in 2025—a fourfold rise.
“Our high-quality oranges have found a loyal and growing audience in Vietnam, where consumers recognise the value of South African produce,” Steenhuisen said. This surge affirms South Africa’s spot as the world’s second-largest citrus exporter and points to strong Asian demand that local farmers are eager to meet.
Building on this, efforts are underway to gain access for other citrus like mandarins, as well as niche items such as game meat. Vietnam’s massive agricultural import market, worth over 30 billion US dollars yearly, offers huge opportunities. South Africa’s current exports of edible fruits and nuts to Vietnam stand at around 54 million dollars, with room to grow into hundreds of millions through this MoU.
The agreement supports South Africa’s goal to unlock new revenue streams, flowing back to rural communities through jobs, higher incomes, and tougher local economies. With Vietnam’s economy growing fast—at over 6% yearly—and its middle class expanding, demand for quality imports like South African fruits could skyrocket. This ties into broader Asian strategies, positioning Vietnam as a gateway for South African goods into Southeast Asia.
Broader Bilateral Upgrade: From Trade to Strategic Allies
The agricultural MoU is part of a bigger shift in South Africa-Vietnam relations, elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Chinh’s visit. The joint statement outlines deeper cooperation in politics, economy, trade, investment, defence, security, agriculture, education, science, technology, and culture. This upgrade builds on 30 years of diplomatic ties, aiming for balanced, sustainable growth.
Vietnam sees South Africa as a key African partner, supporting its G20 presidency and pushing for Africa’s global voice. Chinh noted the need for Vietnam’s inclusion in the G20, while both sides agreed to boost trade in farm products and enhance coffee links. This includes improving market access, investment conditions, and people-to-people exchanges.
Historically, ties date back to anti-colonial struggles, with Vietnam supporting South Africa’s freedom fight. Today, two-way trade hits about 1.2 billion US dollars yearly, with potential to reach 2 billion by 2030 through AfCFTA and ASEAN links. Investments flow both ways—South African firms like MTN operate in Vietnam, while Vietnamese companies eye South Africa’s energy and mining sectors.
Implications for South African Producers: Jobs, Growth, and Sustainability
For South Africa’s farmers, this deal means more than just new markets—it’s about building lasting resilience. With agriculture employing over 800,000 people and contributing 2-3% to GDP, expanded exports could create thousands of jobs in rural areas hit hard by drought and economic woes. The focus on tech transfer could bring better farming methods, like Vietnam’s efficient irrigation, helping South Africa combat climate change.
Steenhuisen stressed the need for swift action: “The MoU is designed to accelerate this growth by strengthening cooperation, fast-tracking market penetration and supporting South Africa’s ambition to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in new agricultural export revenue.” This aligns with Ramaphosa’s directive to open markets quickly, following Steenhuisen’s Vietnam trip.
Overall, the partnership could help diversify South Africa’s exports, reducing reliance on traditional markets like Europe. By tapping Vietnam’s 100 million consumers and its role in ASEAN, South African producers gain a foothold in a region growing at 5% yearly. This not only boosts incomes but also strengthens food security ties, with potential swaps like South African grains for Vietnamese seafood.
As the G20 Summit continues, this MoU shows how global forums can lead to real bilateral wins. For South Africans, it’s a step towards a brighter farming future, turning diplomatic handshakes into tangible growth for communities across the country.
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