Media Statement
06 October 2021
Meeting between HE Deputy Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and HE Dr Ahmed Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar
The Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, HE Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini, will host her Qatari Counterpart, HE Dr Ahmed Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, on Thursday, 7 October 2021 in Pretoria. During the meeting, areas of mutual interest will be explored, as well as the strengthening of bilateral political and economic relations. The meeting will take place in the greater context of preparing for the South Africa-Qatar Bilateral Consultations that are scheduled to be held at Ministerial level in 2022.
The discussions between Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini and Dr Al-Hammadi will focus on current and potential areas of cooperation that exist between South Africa and Qatar. Some of these areas include tourism; trade, infrastructure; transport; and renewable energy. The two delegations will also touch on regional and multilateral areas of common interest.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and the State of Qatar were established on 10 May 1994. Since then, relations have continued to prosper with many high-level visits having taken place since then. President Ramaphosa participated at the 2021 Qatar Economic Forum at the invitation of his Qatari counterpart, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Forum provided a valuable platform for the President to showcase potential investment opportunities in South Africa to a wide and influential audience.
Qatar remains a key partner in terms of advancing the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan of South Africa (ERRP). The country is South Africa’s 10th largest trading partner in the Middle East in terms of exports and 5th largest trading partner in terms of imports. Trade figures in 2020 amounted to just more than R2.9 billion. In October 2020, Qatar Petroleum announced a second gas discovery in South Africa’s Luiperd prospect. It is located adjacent to the Brulpadda prospect which was identified in February 2019, as an important gas condensate discovery. Various development options are currently being evaluated to commercialise these findings. These positive developments will help bolster South Africa’s energy mix and develop adequate generation capacity to meet the demand for electricity, under both the current low-growth economic environment as well as when the economy improves, with the objective of aiding long-term energy security for the country.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
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