DIRCO Annual Report

meat products; progress on Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) negotiations (in the fields of agriculture, standards, human settlements, tourism, ICT, SARS, energy and SMME cooperation) and Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor. The Mission in Ghana also facilitated the signing of the MoU between the Ministry and Global Railway Engineering, a South African company. The MoU complements the Transnet project on rehabilitating the Western Line and the loan facilities being disbursed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa. In North and Central Africa, South Africa has continued to deepen and strengthen its bilateral relations and cooperation with the countries of the region during the period under review. The missions in the region are placing emphasis on economic diplomacy and were able to source information from their counterparts on trade and investment opportunities to the benefit of state-owned enterprises and South African companies. These projected the capabilities of South African companies but also allowed for the sharing of experiences on various platforms, including on women and youth development strategies. Economic relations were further strengthened through activities such as the hosting of virtual business seminars, networking and engagements with potential high-level investors and importers. The Coega Development Agency held meetings with the Central African Republic’s (CAR) Minister of Finance and Budgets and later signed a concession agreement with the Ministry of Finance and Budgets for the construction of the logistics bases for storage of goods and the customs operations in the ports of Duala and Kribi in neighbouring Cameroon. The value of the Concession Agreement for a period of 20 years, if realised, is estimated to be approximately US$40 million. The Mission in Mauritania held a meeting with the Mauritanian Minister of Fisheries and the Maritime Economy on 5 May 2020, during which a strong interest in potential business between South Africa and Mauritania in the fishing sector was expressed by Mauritania. A meeting was held with the Mauritanian Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines on 9 June 2020, where Mauritania indicated its interest in developing its domestic capabilities in the gas sector with the assistance of South Africa. A meeting was held between the Mission and British Petroleum (BP) on 1 June 2020 during which opportunities in the gas sector were explored.

In West Africa, the Mission in Accra held the following economic diplomacy activities in March 2021: • A virtual seminar together with Wesgro and the South African Business Chamber to explore business and commercial opportunities. • The Mission supported Wesgro in hosting an annual wine testing, attended by 19 South African wine producers. The Ghanaian retailers and agencies responded very well and undertook to engage producers for their orders. Contribution to Silencing the Guns South Africa remained seized with supporting lasting solution to the conflicts in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, South Sudan, DRC, Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, Libya, Sahel and consolidating stability in CAR and Lesotho. Efforts are made through continental and regional organisations to ensure that parties are engaged to resolve disputes.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation

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