South Africa’s partnership with France is going from strength to strength, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing that thirty French companies have pledged approximately EUR 1.11 billion – about R20.7 billion – in investments across key sectors of the South African economy.
President Ramaphosa, who is on an Official Visit to France from 10 to 12 July, met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday, where the two leaders reviewed a relationship spanning trade and investment, energy, education, science and cultural exchange.
“France is a key strategic partner for South Africa, and we enjoy longstanding bilateral cooperation spanning trade and investment, energy, defence, education, people-to-people exchange and other fields,” President Ramaphosa said.
French investors back South Africa’s growth
The investment pledges were made at the 6th South Africa Investment Conference held in Johannesburg in March, which saw a strong showing by French companies. President Ramaphosa said the commitments demonstrate the increasing confidence French businesses have in the South African economy and its future growth prospects.
“As we embark on the largest mass infrastructure build in our country’s history, we look forward to participation by French firms in this as well as other sectors,” he said.
Several new agreements are under negotiation between the two countries, including an Agreement on Transport Related Matters, an agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, and a Draft Declaration of Intent on Mobility.
Science ties reach for the stars
Cooperation in science, technology and innovation is flourishing. President Ramaphosa congratulated France on becoming a full member of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) – the radio-telescope project co-hosted in South Africa’s Karoo – making France the 14th Member State of the intergovernmental organisation.
A recent Joint Committee Meeting on science, technology and innovation identified artificial intelligence, oceans and marine sciences, and soil health and water as priority areas for joint work. “We welcome this ongoing cooperation in pursuit of innovation-led growth and environmental sustainability,” the President said.
Culture, defence and a busy calendar ahead
The two countries have agreed to convene the 13th Defence Strategic Dialogue, expected to take place in South Africa in October, to take stock of their Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration.
Cultural diplomacy is also on the rise, with both governments backing their creative industries as engines of growth, transformation, social cohesion and job creation. President Ramaphosa underlined South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism, saying it remains the most effective means of addressing shared global challenges.
With investment flowing, science partnerships deepening and a full diplomatic calendar ahead, the Paris visit has set the stage for an even stronger chapter in South African-French relations, SAnews.gov.za reports.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
.jpg){kind=link}
Leave a Reply