Ramaphosa keen to bolster SA-Angola trade relations
Ramaphosa is on Thursday hosting his counterpart, President João Lourenço at the Union Buildings on his first state visit since his re-election as president in August.
President Cyril Ramaphosa hosts his Angolan counterpart, President João Lourenço at the Union Buildings on his first state visit since his re-election as president in August. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says he wants South Africa to be Angola's premium destination for exports and for more Angolan businesses to open shop in SA.
Ramaphosa is on Thursday hosting his counterpart, President João Lourenço at the Union Buildings on his first state visit since his re-election as president in August.
Ramaphosa said by the time Angola hosts the inaugural Bi-National Commission (BNC) during its 50th year of independence next year, a list of bankable projects will be ready for consideration.
SA's relations with Angola dates back to apartheid and Ramaphosa said both countries share a common struggle to rise above colonialism.
He said increasing trade and investment between the two countries must be their foremost objective.
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At least 20 SA companies are already operating in Angola.
Ramaphosa said there's been a concerted effort to explore investment opportunities beyond the oil sector.
He said opportunities exist in infrastructure development, agriculture, construction, mining, financial services, telecoms and manufacturing.
With the international community having committed to low-carbon, climate-resilient development, Ramaphosa said there's also vast potential for cooperation in cleaner and renewable energy generation, and electric vehicle manufacturing.
"South Africa has prioritised implementing structural economic reforms to improve the business operating environment in our country and to ensure we have an investment climate, that will attract investors to our country," he said.
Ramaphosa said the two countries also need to cooperate on strategies and policies that will ensure greater beneficiation of their minerals.