St. Petersburg, Russia – June 2025
Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) participated in high-level engagements at SPIEF 2025, alongside Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, to affirm South Africa’s commitment to supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through practical infrastructure solutions.
The AfCFTA is seen as a transformative initiative that can shift Africa’s economic trajectory, but its success depends on the development of strategic infrastructure. ISA’s contribution lies in turning policy into action by coordinating and implementing infrastructure that enables trade, facilitates connectivity, and supports integrated regional value chains.
Deputy Minister Zikalala emphasised that the AfCFTA is a living, adaptive framework, not a static agreement, and that infrastructure is the muscle that will move it forward. He underscored the need for African-led solutions that respond to the realities and aspirations of the continent’s people.
ISA’s portfolio of Strategic Integrated Projects includes initiatives focused on logistics, cross-border corridors, and regional energy systems. These efforts are helping to build a cohesive infrastructure network that supports both national development and continental integration.
Deputy President Mashatile noted that South Africa’s infrastructure programme is designed not only for domestic benefit but also to contribute to the broader vision of a connected and prosperous Africa. By coordinating with continental partners, ISA is ensuring that infrastructure plays a key role in enabling the free movement of goods, services, and people under the AfCFTA framework.
