Ramaphosa lands in New Delhi for BRICS summit with trade and investment on the table
South Africa will use the 18th BRICS Summit to push intra-BRICS trade, industrialisation and investment in African infrastructure aligned to the AfCFTA.
President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in New Delhi on the morning of 11 September 2026 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, according to an official statement from the South African Government. The summit runs from 12 to 13 September 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam under India’s chairship, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security”.
The gathering brings together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, along with outreach invitees.
Trade and investment on the agenda
Ramaphosa’s programme opens this afternoon with remarks at the BRICS Business Forum, where he will focus on trade and supply chains, agriculture, women-led development, the digital economy and innovation.
The forum draws in BRICS leaders, business representatives including members of the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, investors, and entrepreneurs from BRICS countries and partner economies. It plays a role in shaping the BRICS economic agenda and in strengthening business-to-business cooperation.
On 12 September 2026 the President addresses the India-South Africa Business Leadership Roundtable, focused on enhancing bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. The forum also seeks to encourage additional Indian foreign direct investment in key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, critical minerals, and the electric vehicle battery value chain.
Governance reform in a closed session
Later on 12 September, Ramaphosa participates in a closed session of BRICS leaders titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism”. The session considers the need for a more inclusive, representative and responsive global governance architecture, with a focus on reform of the United Nations system, the international financial architecture and the multilateral trading system.
On 13 September 2026 he delivers a statement during the summit’s open session for BRICS and invited leaders, under the heading “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”, which focuses on India’s chairship priorities.
South Africa will use the summit to advance its diplomatic and economic priorities, particularly by expanding intra-BRICS trade and investment, promoting industrialisation and value addition, and mobilising investment in African infrastructure aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area.
What the programme sets up for South Africa
The President will also join other leaders in visiting the Bharat Innovates & BRICS @20 Exhibition, which showcases innovation, technology and key achievements of BRICS cooperation, and will take part in a joint tree-planting ceremony. He will hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, as well as engagements with business leaders and captains of industry.
Ramaphosa is supported by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi.
The three headline moments are set out in the official programme. The BRICS Business Forum runs from 17h00 to 18h00 GMT on Friday, 11 September 2026. The India-South Africa Business Leadership Roundtable is scheduled for 11h15 GMT on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The open session on inclusive global growth is set for 10h15 GMT on Sunday, 13 September 2026.
BRICS live streaming for select meetings will be accessible on the @BRICS2026India and @MEAIndia YouTube channels.
Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi are part of the delegation supporting the President.
For South African exporters, the roundtable’s stated sector list, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, critical minerals and the electric vehicle battery value chain, is the part of the visit with the most direct commercial consequence. The government’s stated aim is to attract additional Indian foreign direct investment into those sectors, and the summit statement frames the wider push around expanding intra-BRICS trade and investment and mobilising investment in African infrastructure aligned with the AfCFTA.
Media enquiries are directed to Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, at media@presidency.gov.za.
This report is drawn from the South African Government’s official media statement on the President’s arrival, published at https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/president-cyril-ramaphosa-arrives-india-the18th-brics-summit-10-sep-2026. The statement sets out the programme and the stated priorities, and does not report the outcomes of any of the meetings.
