Prime Minister Visits and Engages with Africa’s Largest Stock Market

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is Africa’s largest stock exchange and ranks approximately 19th-20th globally in market capitalization. With a market cap of around $1.25 trillion, it hosts 435 listed companies and averages monthly trading volumes of $6-7 billion.

Established in 1887, the JSE serves as the cornerstone of South Africa’s economy, facilitating capital raising, job creation, and investment value. With over 130 years of history, it is not only a symbol of African financial development but also a vital bridge for global investors, particularly in mining and resources.

The JSE has been recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as one of the world’s best-regulated financial markets.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated the JSE on its achievements, highlighting valuable lessons for Vietnam, especially in modernizing trading systems for deeper integration and diversifying products and markets. He noted Vietnam’s upgrade from a frontier market to a secondary emerging market by FTSE Russell in October 2025.

Vietnam continues to maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, ensure economic balances, and achieve an estimated 8% GDP growth in 2025, with a target of double-digit growth in the coming years.

Aiming for a healthy, transparent, stable, and sustainable stock market, the Prime Minister proposed prioritizing cooperation and experience sharing to develop products and markets, establish an International Financial Center in Vietnam with superior legal frameworks to attract global financial institutions and investors, enhance digital transformation, promote indirect investment flows, and develop real estate and gold trading platforms.

The JSE CEO expressed honor in welcoming the Prime Minister and Vietnamese delegation, praising Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, particularly its impressive GDP growth. Noting similarities between South Africa and Vietnam, the CEO emphasized the capital market’s role in driving growth and confirmed readiness to implement the proposed cooperation initiatives, with a potential visit to Vietnam early next year.