As the global political pendulum tilts away from traditional Western allegiances, Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has charted a path through the Brics platform – aligning South Africa’s north-eastern province with China in pursuit of agricultural prosperity.
Ndlovu flew out on Thursday for a high-level outbound investment mission to the People’s Republic of China.
The trip, which is expected to last until June 23, seeks to open global doors for local farmers and fast-track the operationalisation of the long-awaited Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market (MIFPM).
Ndlovu’s visit comes at a time when South Africa’s relationship with Western economic powers remains unpredictable. With geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances and economic stagnation in traditional markets, Ndlovu has turned to the East, not for allegiance but opportunity.
“We are targeting the Chinese markets because they are reputable trade institutions internationally for the export of agricultural commodities,” said Ndlovu ahead of his departure.
“We will visit cities with a growing population and a strong gross domestic product (GDP). These are the values we are looking for in a quest to make the fresh produce market a game-changer in the food chain industry.”
China’s significance as a global agricultural trade player cannot be overstated. In 2023, the world’s second-largest economy imported an estimated $218-billion in agricultural products, according to global reports.
Even amid domestic efforts to boost food security, China’s dependency on fruit, nuts, oilseeds and speciality crops from abroad continues to grow. In March 2025 alone, China imported agri products worth more than $13.7-billion. This enormous appetite makes Mpumalanga’s
avocados, macadamia nuts, citrus and hemp industries natural contenders in the Chinese agricultural chain.
The visit includes stops at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for trade investment, Longnan City – renowned for traditional medicine and olive oil – and the Tianshui Inland Port, a modern model for agricultural development.
Ndlovu is accompanied by agriculture MEC Nompumelelo Hlophe and senior provincial officials.
But while the trip has a clear international scope, the province insists this is not an ideological manoeuvre. “This is not a malicious pivot,” a senior provincial official said. “Even US President Donald Trump is constantly on the phone with President Xi Jinping discussing trade and tariffs. What we are doing is no different – it’s about expanding trade opportunities and empowering local farmers.”
The China mission is the next step in a broader economic agenda Ndlovu unveiled during his state of the province address in February and again at the opening of the seventh Mpumalanga legislature last year. Central to this agenda is the MIFPM, a state-of-the-art platform that will connect emerging farmers to local, national and global markets.
The province has already committed to creating 156 direct jobs on the market floor and an estimated 115 000 sustainable jobs at farm level. More than 1 400 small-scale farmers will benefit from international exposure once the market becomes operational later this year.
“We are also expecting to create an additional 105 000 jobs at farm level. The visit must be seen in the context of a determination by the seventh administration to reduce unemployment and poverty in Mpumalanga.”
The province is also finalising its Nutrition Sourcing Bill, which will give emerging farmers consistent access to provincial feeding programmes. Alongside this, Mpumalanga is working with the Land Bank on blended finance schemes for land reform beneficiaries while also rolling out agri-hubs and supporting the industrial hemp and cannabis sectors.
With rising Chinese demand for subtropical produce and medicinal crops, Ndlovu is positioning Mpumalanga as a premium supplier in a fast-growing global market. By deepening trade ties with China through the Brics corridor and aligning Mpumalanga with global agricultural trends, Ndlovu is betting on diplomacy, dirt and determination to deliver jobs, transformation and long-term food security.
