Media Statement
12 March 2023
President to host Her Excellency President Hassan of Tanzania for State Visit
Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, of the United Republic of Tanzania will pay a State Visit to South Africa on Thursday, 16 March 2023, at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The State Visit will crown the Second Session of the South Africa–Tanzania Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The Commission comprises four committees: Political and Diplomatic; Defence and Security; Economic Affairs, and Social and Cultural Affairs.
South Africa and Tanzania enjoy deep historical relations arising from Tanzania’s solidarity with South Africa’s liberation struggle.
The ruling party in Tanzania, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), supported the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in the struggle against apartheid.
These ties culminated in the establishment of official diplomatic relations when South Africa achieved freedom in 1994 and have since evolved into excellent political, economic, and social relations.
The Bi-National Commission is a platform for strengthening cooperation especially in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, transport, energy, water, science and innovation, education, defence, agriculture, environment, health, and culture, among others.
Tanzania is one of South Africa’s foremost trading partners on the continent.
South Africa wishes to see an increase in trade and investment and broader economic development between the two countries. To this end, total trade between South Africa and Tanzania increased from R6,89 billion in 2021 to R8,71 billion in 2022.
The strong economic ties are evidenced by the presence of more than 250 South African companies in diverse sectors in Tanzania.
The programme of the Heads of State and Government will be preceded by meetings of senior officials on 13 and 14 March 2023 and the Ministerial Bi-National Commission on the Senior Officials on 15 March 2023. These engagements will take place at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s OR Tambo headquarters in Pretoria.
On the margins of the State Visit and the BNC, a Business Forum will take place under the theme: ““Forging a New Deal between South Africa and Tanzania Towards High Levels of Trade and Investment”.
The forum will focus on agriculture, agro-processing, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure development.
President Ramaphosa and President Hassan will address a plenary session of the Business Forum on the afternoon of the State Visit on 16 March.
Accredited Members of the media are invited as follows:
STATE VISIT AND HEADS OF STATE BNC
Date: Thursday, 16 March 2023
Time: 10h00 (Media to arrive at 08h30)
Venue: The Union Buildings, Pretoria
SA – TANZANIA BUSINESS FORUM
Date: Thursday, 16 March 2023
Time: 15h00 (Media to arrive at 13h00)
Venue: The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Meiring Naude Road Brummeria, Pretoria
NOTE TO MEDIA: MEDIA ACCREDITATION APPLICATION FOR ALL THE ENGAGEMENTS CLOSED ON 06 MARCH 2023. ONLY ACCREDITED MEDIA WILL BE ALLOWED ACCESS.
Accreditation enquiries: Shadi Baloyi 072 571 6415 (State Visit); Kgopotso Rapakuana 073 058 3876 (Senior Officials and Ministerial BNC) and Phumzile Kotane 063 114 3704 (Business Forum)
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria