South Africa’s longstanding engineering capability and growing localisation drive took centre stage at the Rail Live 2025 Expo, last week.
The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) formed part of a delegation of nine companies, which participated in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Outward Selling Mission.
Reflecting on the week-long programme, the CEO of ARIA, Mesela Nhlapo, said the mission reaffirmed South Africa’s strong reputation among global rail players and underscored the importance of localisation as an anchor of national competitiveness.
“Localisation is not just about employment; it is a matter of national pride. Across the exhibition, countries boldly declare ‘made in’ on their products. South Africa must rally behind a single identity that recognises our century-long engineering history, our innovation, and our ability to manufacture world-class solutions,” she said.
Nhlapo highlighted the deep respect international firms continue to show for South African technical expertise, noting that engagements with German companies were among the strongest indicators of the country’s global standing.
“German companies were actively looking for Transnet at Rail Live. The level of technical engagement, and the respect they showed to our engineers was mind-blowing. We often underestimate ourselves, but the world continues to value South Africa’s capability,” she said.
She emphasised that the country’s engineering heritage, skills development institutions and innovation culture position South Africa as a competitive supplier to the global rail market.
Nhlapo expressed her appreciation for the dtic’s role in enabling the mission, noting that the department’s planning, coordination and market-access facilitation directly contributed to the strong performance of the South African delegation.
“This mission is funded and curated by the dtic, but more than that, the dedication of the officials who planned the programme is what made it successful.
“Our political principals — President Ramaphosa, Minister Parks Tau and his colleagues — continue to open doors for South African industry across the world. Government creates the space, business must step in to secure opportunities,” she said.
She noted that companies on the mission held back-to-back meetings, including one Cape Town-based firm whose stand continuously drew interest due to a high-impact innovation displayed at the expo.
“Business is open in the international space. Companies are asking about South African capability, and the world is ready for our innovative solutions,” Nhlapo said.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the mission, Nhlapo said she is hopeful that the engagements held in Madrid will translate into tangible export deals in the coming months.
“I am confident that in six months, we will be able to report to the dtic that the return on investment from this mission is significant. Let us grow exports, showcase our engineering strength, and continue positioning South Africa as an export-led economy,” she said.
ARIA and the participating South African companies will continue nurturing the leads generated at Rail Live 2025, while preparing for upcoming global platforms such as InnoTrans 2026. – SAnews.gov.za
