Pre-departure engagements connected South African stakeholders with Singapore ahead of SAFWS 2026.
The International Women’s Federation in Commerce and Industry (IWFCI) South Africa facilitated two pre-departure engagements in South Africa ahead of South Africa Focus Week (SAFWS) 2026 in Singapore. The programme included a CEO Leadership Breakfast and a Diplomatic Community Reception hosted by the Singapore High Commission in Pretoria, with the engagements aimed at advancing the “Are Yeng Singapore” campaign, preparing participating enterprises and identifying opportunities for strategic partnerships.
The Diplomatic Community Reception was hosted by H.E. Zainal Mantaha, Singapore’s High Commissioner to South Africa, and his team as part of the SAFWS 2026 pre-departure programme. The engagements involved members of the diplomatic corps, government representatives, business owners, vice presidents and C-suite executives, export and trade specialists, development finance institutions, trade commissioners, chambers of commerce, industry associations, investors, strategic media partners and other South Africa-based stakeholders.
The programme was designed to facilitate dialogue and connections ahead of the SAFWS 2026 delegation’s visit to Singapore. Discussions and networking activities focused on enterprise readiness, meaningful business connections and opportunities for strategic partnerships, while extending participation beyond members of the SAFWS delegation.
The engagements also highlighted the role of collaboration in preparing for international business and institutional exchanges. An expression used during the programme was the Sesotho proverb, “Ntjapedi ha e hlolwe ke sebata,” which literally means that two dogs cannot be defeated by a beast. Its broader meaning relates to the ability to address challenges through collective action.
A similar Chinese expression, “猛虎难敌群狼” (Měng hǔ nán dí qún láng), meaning “A fierce tiger is no match for a pack of wolves,” was also cited to convey the value of working collectively.
The pre-departure activities preceded SAFWS 2026 in Singapore, where the participating delegates were expected to continue engagements initiated in South Africa. The programme underscored the importance of dialogue, preparation, trust and connections in developing international partnerships before the delegation’s arrival in Singapore.
Source: South African High Commission in Singapore
