République FrançaiseBusiness France

France - South Africa Business Forum

29 Sept 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa

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Tuesday, 29 September 2026 | 14:00 - 15:00

Industry & Economic Sovereignty: Towards an Optimised, Automated & Frictionless Industry

Track:Roundtable

Made in South Africa for Africa

The COVID-19 crisis served as a wake-up call for leading economies, highlighting the critical role of reindustrialisation in achieving economic sovereignty. In response, both South Africa and France have launched initiatives across key sectors such as textiles, medical devices, mining, and automotive to strengthen local production and resilience. At the same time, new technologies—driven by optimisation, automation, and digitalisation—are transforming industrial processes. These innovations enhance safety, increase efficiency, improve revenue generation, and streamline operations, paving the way toward a more frictionless industry. What are the key challenges in combining reindustrialisation with technological transformation, and what lessons can South Africa and France learn from each other?