The meeting was also attended by Chief Veterinary Officer Paweł Meyer and representatives of the National Support Centre for Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The South African delegation is visiting Warsaw for the first meeting of the Polish–South African Commission on Economic Cooperation. Representatives of Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Veterinary Inspectorate are also taking part in the Commission’s work.

Poland’s proposals for cooperation with South Africa

Minister Stefan Krajewski stressed that Poland is keen to increase its agri-food exports to South Africa.

“I hope that agreement can soon be reached on market access conditions for further categories of Polish products of animal origin, particularly poultry meat and pork. Broader access to the South African market would create new opportunities for Polish producers and exporters and contribute to the further expansion of bilateral trade,” the Minister emphasised.

The Polish Agriculture Minister announced that the National Support Centre for Agriculture plans to organise a Polish national stand at the Anuga Select South Africa trade fair in Cape Town in June 2027 to showcase Polish food products and strengthen business ties between Polish and South African companies.

Minister Krajewski also highlighted the considerable potential for scientific and research cooperation in agriculture with South African partners.  He also confirmed Poland’s interest in concluding a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation.

“Such a memorandum would not only provide a framework for further developing bilateral relations, but also facilitate closer links between institutions and businesses in both countries,” the Minister said.

South Africa’s position

Deputy Minister John Steenhuisen emphasised that the South African and Polish agricultural sectors complement each other. He expressed interest in further deepening bilateral cooperation and identifying promising areas for partnership in the agri-food sector, particularly opportunities to increase bilateral trade in agri-food products.

Deputy Minister Steenhuisen also pledged support for expediting the procedures being carried out by the competent South African veterinary authorities to grant Polish agri-food products access to the South African market. He also indicated South Africa’s interest in cooperation on modern agricultural technologies.

Poland’s agri-food export performance in South Africa

In 2025, Poland exported agri-food products worth nearly EUR 98 million to South Africa, mainly wheat, food preparations not elsewhere specified, bread, pastry, cakes and biscuits.

Between January and June 2026, Poland’s agri-food exports to South Africa reached EUR 91.6 million, almost double the value recorded in the same period of 2025.