Singapore, which is ranked among the smartest cities in the world, is looking to make a deal with South Africa.
Reuters reported that a delegation of Singaporean companies is in the country this week to explore opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer goods, as trade between the two nations continues to surge.
Enterprise Singapore, the city-state’s trade and enterprise agency, said the business mission forms part of its Scale-Up Programme.
Enterprise Singapore, the city-state’s trade and enterprise agency, said the business mission forms part of its Scale-Up Programme.
The programme aims to connect participating firms with South African counterparts across key industries, including agri-processing and industrial supply.
The initiative comes at a time when countries around the world are redrawing trade routes and strengthening strategic partnerships to navigate shifting tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty.
“South Africa and Singapore already enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, and many Singaporean companies are operating in the country already,” said Rahul Ghosh, Enterprise Singapore’s director for the Middle East and Africa.
“In the long term, this will result in Singaporean businesses unlocking new opportunities for South African businesses for win-win outcomes, which is especially important at this critical juncture of global trade and investment uncertainty.”
The visiting delegation includes companies from a range of industries, such as steel infrastructure specialist Mlion Corporation, car-leasing firm Lumens, snack maker Cocoba, refurbished-device trader Mercantile Pacific, and industrial equipment supplier Chee Fatt.
The group is expected to meet with major local and regional players, including Tolaram Group and Denmark-based FLSmidth, to discuss potential collaboration and investment opportunities.
According to Ghosh, manufacturing, agri-processing, and logistics have been identified as the key focus sectors.
These are areas where Singapore’s experience in innovation and operational efficiency could help strengthen South Africa’s industrial capabilities and open new export channels for both sides.
Trade in goods between Singapore and South Africa reached $1.4 billion (R24.28 billion) in 2024 (nearly double the level recorded in 2020), highlighting a growing appetite for deeper economic ties.
One of the smartest cities in the world
Singapore’s role as a global logistics and technology hub makes it an attractive partner for South Africa as it seeks to modernise its industrial base and improve supply chain connectivity.
The partnership talks are also underscored by Singapore’s position as one of the most technologically advanced and efficiently managed cities in the world.
Singapore is both a city and a country, as it is a sovereign city-state. This means it is a country with a single, unified urban area that constitutes the majority of its territory.
It is an independent nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
According to the 2024 Smart City Index, published by Switzerland’s Institute for Management Development (IMD), Singapore is ranked the world’s fifth-smartest city, up two places from its 2023 position, and remains the smartest city in Asia.
The annual index evaluates 142 cities based on how effectively they use technology to enhance citizens’ quality of life.
The report found that Singapore excels in areas such as public transport, public safety, and access to basic sanitation, particularly in poorer communities.
Zurich retained the top spot globally, followed by Oslo, Canberra, and Geneva. Other Asian cities in the top 20 included Beijing, Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Singapore’s performance in the index has long made it a benchmark for urban innovation. Between 2019 and 2021, the city-state ranked first in the world before slipping to seventh place in 2023.
The latest index, developed in partnership with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation, combines hard data with survey responses from citizens on issues such as traffic congestion, public Wi-Fi access, and internet speed and reliability.
This year’s report also introduced moving averages, allowing researchers to track how cities have performed over time.
Based on these findings, Singapore was named a “super-champion” city for maintaining or improving its ranking over multiple years.
For South Africa, the timing of Singapore’s outreach could not be more significant. Ghosh noted that the growing partnership is about more than trade—it’s about shared growth.
“The opportunities are mutually reinforcing. When Singaporean and South African businesses work together, we create value that benefits both economies,” he said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Malcolm Libera
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Business Tech, 01.11.2025
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