The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was among the attendant member nations at the G20 Startup20 Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 13 to 14 November 2025. The Saudi delegation was led by H.R.H. Prince Fahad bin Mansour bin Nasser Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Foreign Minister and president of the Saudi G20 Startup20 Group, powered by Neom. Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz – otherwise known as MBS – the Kingdom’s de facto ruler was not present. The Saudi delegation representatives included government entities with in the desert kingdom’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, alongside representatives from private and non-profit sectors, as well as entrepreneurs and investors. The Saudi participation aimed to showcase Riyadh’s entrepreneurial progress and expand its international partnerships; abroad. .
So, ground water is unsafe to drink, this would be especially worrying when you live in a rural area that uses such water. Ground water when it comes to the surface and has been affected by more than sewerage waste can be deadly. The use of chloride can be used to clean harmful chemicals from the water. This should happen after you filter the water of heavier substances and then boil it. This practice once used should kill the harmful bacteria such as the E. coli virus and cholerae. Education about these uses and the resources concerning water should be a priority. Both the state and civil society (NGOs and educational outlets) need to reach out and assist in alerting communities that use ground water. Chief among them as regards the government is the Education and health departments. They could save a lot of lives in the rural areas through education.
A 2021 study published in ScienceDirect titled “Groundwater Contamination in Sub-Saharan Africa” revealed alarming levels of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, in groundwater sources close to human activity. Households and business premises that utilise boreholes for drinking water must be vigilant; it is crucial for borehole users to not assume the safety of their water, especially if they are near human and/or industrial activities. Regular testing and monitoring of borehole water are essential practices to ensure it remains safe for consumption. Groundwater supplies the majority of small urban and rural communities in South Africa and is critical in agriculture where it is used for livestock and irrigation – the vast majority of famers in Southern Africa rely on groundwater for both domestic consumption and livestock watering.
In Addition to, Saudi Arabia participated in the summit’s exhibition through a dedicated national pavilion that showcased valuable Saudi projects and promising investment opportunities. The pavilion also highlighted the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s entrepreneurship ecosystem in technology and energy, and hosted a number of interactive workshops presenting key programs supporting startup development. In this context, the Saudi participation generated substantial interaction, resulting in the signing of several Memorandum of Understanding and the exploration of new collaboration opportunities with international innovation-focused organizations, further reinforcing the global presence of Saudi startups.
During the main sessions, H.R.H. Prince Fahad bin Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud emphasized that developing entrepreneurship and increasing the contribution of small and medium sized enterprises to the Gross Domestic Product are key to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, highlighting the significant progress of the Kingdom’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and its growing global competitiveness.
The House of Saud regime under MBS has long sort to diversify its economy beyond the extraction of oil. To that end Riyadh is branching out to other regional economic powerhouses across the globe. Now those very same powerhouses have convened in exactly the same place (Johannesburg, South Africa). This availed the Saudis of the opportunity to showcase what their economy has to offer (besides oil). The Saudi Start up Pavilion was the presentation to the delegates of the new innovations taking place in the Persian Gulf regional power. An opportunity to attract investors across the trade spectrum that is the twenty major world economies.
The Saudi monarchy it must be noted is looking to improve trade ties across the world unlike its close ally the United States under President Donald J. Trump to raise connections with investors. Investors who will pour money into its Saudi Vision 2030 (hopefully). Saudi Arabia cannot afford trade isolationism like its ‘friends’ in Washington. The key is to have feasible economic projects to invest in.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will undertake an Outward Selling Mission (OSM) to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 10 – 12 November 2025 (Please note this was before the G20 Summit). The project forms part of the implementation plan for the recently concluded Joint Economic Commission, in which Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Parks Tau, presented to Saudi officials and business a list of South Africa’s leading potential export products, and a comprehensive portfolio of high-impact investment projects, aligned with the country’s economic priorities. The OSM will, among other things, facilitate access for South African value-added products and services into the Saudi Arabian market, build brand awareness for South African products and services, and connect with potential buyers and importers. The companies selected are mainly in the agro-processing and health sectors.
The Outward Selling Mission aligns with the dtic’s strategic objective of expanding South Africa’s industrial footprint and unlocking new market opportunities in the Middle East region. It serves as a platform to promote value-added exports, strengthen industrial linkages, and position South African firms competitively within regional and global value chains.
The DTIC is hoping to use strategic investment partnerships like the one with Saudi Arabia to improve the attractiveness of South Africa’s private sector to improve trade and industry. In this way job creation and productivity will increase. South Africa stands as one of Africa’s regional gateways. A path way through which other economic regional powers like Saudi Arabia gain access for their business output. Pretoria needs international friends to assist in trade and investment as well as new markets to export its agricultural and pharmaceutical products to boost sales at home. Trump can be considered a stern and divisive politician who has not examined the facts on the ground himself when it comes to South Africa. This can be considered due to his failure to attend or even send a high-profile delegation to the G20 Summit.
The Saudis are examining which options in diplomacy and trade to keep open and who can be relied upon to give them economic access. Pretoria could enable their new Riyadh connections to assist in investment, trade and rapid industrialization along the lines of environmentally friendly renewable energy.
South Africa must always look to forge new friendships when the world’s chief power is looking to isolate itself by not partnering with global nation blocs. There is a delicate balance concerning how peace can be accomplished through trade. Fairness and honesty as well as being transparent is necessary to forge good relations. Not the imposition of tariffs (taxes on imported goods) on your allies.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
