Ramaphosa Silicon Valley mission: SA courts US tech giants days after AGOA blow

0 President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the keynote address at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s gala dinner on 28 October 2026. Image: X @SABCNews Home » News » Politics » Ramaphosa Silicon Valley mission: SA courts US tech giants days after AGOA blow

The Ramaphosa Silicon Valley mission is going ahead, just as Washington moves to cut South Africa’s duty-free trade access.

0 President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the keynote address at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s gala dinner on 28 October 2026. Image: X @SABCNews President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Silicon Valley mission is moving ahead, and its timing could hardly be more delicate.

South Africa is preparing to court some of the world’s biggest technology companies.

It comes just a day after Washington moved to strip the country of a trade deal worth billions.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau told SABC News on Tuesday, 3 November, that a South African business delegation will accompany Ramaphosa to Silicon Valley in the United States.

There, the group will be hosted by major US tech companies.

Tau said the trip forms part of South Africa’s digitalisation strategy.

He explained that digitalisation is one of three pillars of the country’s industrial development strategy.

The delegation will include government, business and other stakeholders.

According to Tau, the goal is business-to-business engagement, learning from the tech sector, and shaping where South Africa invests to grow the industry.

Ramaphosa first revealed the plan on 19 October, at the Black Wednesday commemoration lunch with editors and journalists.

He said he had been immersing himself in artificial intelligence (AI).

He added that he wanted to meet the “big moguls of artificial intelligence” to understand how the technology works and how South Africa can benefit.

The president said the delegation would include government officials, universities, young people and business.

No date, itinerary or list of companies has been announced.

The trip comes as trade relations with the US come under strain.

On Monday, 2 November, the US gave notice that it intends to remove South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from 1 January 2027.

AGOA gives qualifying sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market.

South Africa has been its largest beneficiary, exporting about $1.7 billion (R28 billion) worth of goods under the programme in 2025.

These exports are mainly vehicles and parts, farm products and wine.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said President Donald Trump found that South Africa was engaging in practices inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria.

Tau said government recognises the concern the decision will cause for workers, exporters and communities linked to AGOA. He said government will support affected sectors and speed up efforts to diversify export markets, including across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

He also stressed that AGOA, while important, is not the whole of South Africa’s economic relationship with the US.

Before the announcement, Tau said South Africa would have 60 days to appeal a removal before it took effect.

Trade union federation Cosatu has called for urgent government intervention, warning about the impact on agricultural and manufacturing jobs.

Several prominent US tech figures have South African connections, including Elon Musk, David Sacks and Peter Thiel.

Whether the visit leads to new investment, skills partnerships or AI projects at home remains to be seen.

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