Mr Zane Dangor, Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of the Republic of South Africa, and Ms Cindy Termorshuizen, Deputy Minister of International Development at Global Affairs Canada (GAC), co-chaired the 15th Canada-South Africa Annual Consultations in Pretoria on 15 May 2026.
The consultations, grounded in the longstanding and constructive partnership between Canada and South Africa, provided an opportunity to review progress on joint initiatives, advance shared priorities, and further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
This year’s consultations carried particular significance as they advanced priorities identified by Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Cyril Ramaphosa following their meeting on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November 2025. Director-General Dangor and Deputy Minister Termorshuizen served as Sherpas for their respective countries throughout South Africa’s hosting of the G20 process in 2025.
The bilateral consultations took place against a backdrop of significant global transition, characterised by geopolitical tensions, economic disruption, climate pressures, and a more complex and contested multilateral environment. In this context, the co-chairs underscored the importance of mutually beneficial economic cooperation, aligning development, economic, and strategic objectives, reinforcing trust and predictability at a time of heightened global uncertainty.
Canada reaffirmed its recognition of South Africa as a key strategic partner on the African continent to advance Canada’s Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security. South Africa, in turn, acknowledged Canada’s longstanding solidarity and support, and welcomed continued deepening of bilateral economic diplomacy, sectoral cooperation, and development partnerships aimed at promoting inclusive growth, employment creation, and skills development.
Discussions on trade, investment, and economic diversification underscored the importance both countries place on advancing stronger economic partnerships as a central pillar of bilateral engagement. Exchanges focused on expanding commercial ties through improved business facilitation, targeted high-level engagement, and closer cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders. The co-chairs welcomed recent exploratory discussions toward a potential Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), as well as ongoing work toward a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA).
Participants also identified priority sectors for cooperation—including sustainable mining, clean technologies, information and communications technology, education, and agriculture—as key drivers of inclusive economic growth and diversification. Canada reiterated its support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as enhanced cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to unlock regional and continental trade opportunities.
Agriculture featured prominently during the discussions as a sector of strategic and commercial importance for both countries, with South Africa providing an update on preparations for a high-level delegation to Canada centred around participation in the Ag in Motion agricultural trade fair in Saskatchewan in July 2026. The delegation is expected to engage with Canadian agribusinesses and leading agricultural and technology institutions to explore partnerships in innovation, training, and skills development, particularly for young farmers.
Recognising that both countries are leading mining nations, the co-chairs welcomed growing exchanges and investments between Canadian and South African mining companies, supported by platforms such as Africa Mining Indaba and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) annual convention. Discussions highlighted the increasing strategic importance of critical minerals, resilient supply chains, and responsible resource development to global economic and energy security. Building on their shared legacy of leadership in responsible mining, both sides identified opportunities to collaborate through the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) to support improved governance, environmental and social performance, and investor confidence across critical minerals value chains in priority African producer countries.
South Africa expressed appreciation for the tangible results achieved through Canada’s international assistance, including climate finance support across priority areas, including the Just Energy Transition (JET), green industrialisation, youth employment and skills development, governance and ethics reform, gender equality and human rights, health systems strengthening, and climate resilience.
Both sides noted the growing link between development cooperation and long-term economic growth, investment readiness, and industrial competitiveness. They agreed to explore opportunities to apply elements of the successful JET partnership, combining policy reform, catalytic finance, private investment and skills development, to other priority sectors of the South African economy.
On climate and environment issues, participants reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral relationship and a shared commitment to deepen cooperation, including through the co-development of a joint workplan with targeted actions and timelines. They highlighted alignment on domestic climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, including South Africa’s Climate Change Act (2024), the importance of advancing South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, and Canada’s Climate Competitiveness Strategy. Both Canada and South Africa underscored the importance of pursuing economic growth pathways that support emissions reductions while strengthening resilience to increasing climate impacts. Priority areas for technical collaboration include methane emission mitigation, water management, biodiversity conservation, circular economy (including plastics), and marine and coastal management. Together, they noted the value of leveraging complementary expertise and knowledge sharing to support shared objectives.
The co-chairs welcomed continued collaboration in science, technology, and innovation, notably through Joint Committee meetings convened by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), recognising their contribution to collective progress in scientific understanding, to skills development and innovative solutions to shared global challenges. The sustained engagement between DSTI and ISED is a clear indication of the constructive collaboration that has been maintained since the signing of the MoU in November 2019. The co-chairs further acknowledged that high-level policy dialogues have been convened, which stands as a testament to the partnership celebrated through the publication of a joint work marking 20 years of scientific and technological cooperation.
The co-chairs noted significant progress across several areas of mutual interest, including the South Africa–Canada Research Chairs Trilateral Partners and Mobility programs, as well as collaboration through the South Africa–Canada Universities Network (SACUN), while highlighting continued cooperation in prominent multilateral initiatives. Both sides agreed to pursue further cooperation in researcher mobility and training, recognising the importance of strong foundations in skills development to economic prosperity. In this context, the co-chairs reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the Canada–South Africa research partnership through practical, mutually beneficial cooperation in support of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, resilience, and shared international priorities.
In the area of cultural cooperation, both sides welcomed the ratification of the renewed Canada–South Africa Audiovisual Co-production Agreement in December 2025, which entered into force in January 2026, replacing the previous agreement signed in 1997. The updated agreement reflects changes in the film and creative industries, including the growth of animation, digital media and emerging technologies such as augmented reality, and is intended to support expanded collaboration in film, television and new media production. The agreement enables eligible co-productions to access national incentives in both Canada and South Africa, helping to encourage investment and broaden market opportunities for producers. Both countries noted ongoing collaboration on joint film projects and welcomed recent exchanges involving South African filmmakers in Canada.
The consultations provided an opportunity to take stock of progress across a broad range of areas and to set a forward-looking agenda for continued bilateral cooperation. The co-chairs reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the Canada–South Africa partnership and agreed that the next bilateral consultations will take place in Canada on a mutually convenient date.
Note: In Canada a Deputy Minister is a senior civil servant equivalent to a Director-General in South Africa.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
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0084