Team Finland visit to South Africa

The Team Finland network is organising a business delegation visit to South Africa on 23-26 November 2026, led by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. The visit offers Finnish companies an excellent opportunity to explore new business prospects, strengthen partnerships, and engage directly with key decision-makers and industry stakeholders in one of Africa’s most advanced and dynamic economies.

23.–26.11.2026

South Africa (Durban, Pretoria, and Johannesburg)

Register here by 21 September

Why South Africa?

As Finland’s largest export market in Africa and the continent’s most industrialised economy, South Africa provides a well-established business environment supported by a strong legal and regulatory framework. It also serves as an important gateway to opportunities across the wider Southern African region.

The visit will highlight opportunities in sectors where Finnish expertise is well positioned to add value:

• Mining: South Africa’s rich natural resources continue to drive demand for solutions that improve digitalisation, productivity and value-added processing.
• Digitalisation and Data Centres: South Africa is Africa’s leading data centre market, with substantial growth in operational capacity and investment activity.
• Circular Economy: Water and Forestry: Rising investment needs in water treatment and supply infrastructure are creating demand for innovative technologies, while the forestry and wood-processing sector offers opportunities in sustainable solutions and higher value-added products.

More than 30 Finnish companies already operate successfully in South Africa, demonstrating the market’s long-term business potential.

Who Should Attend?

The delegation is aimed at Finnish companies looking to expand their presence in Southern Africa, particularly within:

• Mining
• Digitalisation and Data Centres
• Circular Economy (Water and Forestry)

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Meet relevant public and private sector decision-makers.
• Gain first-hand insights into market developments and emerging opportunities.
• Explore partnerships, commercial opportunities and investment projects.
• Increase their visibility through the Team Finland network.
• Connect with Finnish companies already active in the region.

The programme will include high-level business meetings, industry-focused events, networking opportunities and site visits tailored to the delegation’s priority sectors. The preliminary program will be made available shortly. 

Participation Fee

To cover the costs of organising the visit, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will invoice a maximum participation fee of EUR 1000 per person, plus a EUR 20 management fee. The final amount will be based on actual costs and invoiced after the visit. The participation fee does not include flights, accommodation or meals outside the official programme.