Saudi-South African Joint Committee's Tenth Session Inaugurated By Industry Minister In Riyadh

The 10th session of the Saudi-South African Joint Committee was inaugurated by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef in Riyadh. South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau attended the event with senior officials from both countries. This high-level meeting aims to enhance bilateral relations, building on the foundation laid at the ninth session in Pretoria in 2022.

Alkhorayef highlighted the longstanding ties between Saudi Arabia and South Africa, which date back to the early 1990s. He noted that this partnership has evolved into a strong framework based on mutual respect and shared strategic goals. The collaboration is particularly robust in sectors like energy, mining, industry, agriculture, and transportation.

A key point in Alkhorayef's address was the need to boost non-oil trade between the two nations. He stressed that while current trade volumes are promising, achieving the full potential of this economic partnership requires more than just periodic meetings. Concrete actions such as workshops and tangible projects are essential for activating existing agreements.

South Africa’s Climate Change Law of 2024, effective from February, is a significant step towards a low-carbon economy. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's efforts under the Saudi Green Initiative, which includes major solar energy projects and green hydrogen production. Both nations are steering towards a sustainable future through these initiatives.

Bilateral relations have grown rapidly due to strategic investments and shared economic objectives. Notable Saudi investments in South Africa include ACWA Power’s Bokpoort Concentrated Solar Power plant in the Northern Cape. SABIC also maintains a strong presence with sales, storage, and distribution centers in Durban and sales offices in Cape Town.

Parks Tau affirmed that this session marks an important milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and South Africa. He emphasized that it provides an opportunity to expand cooperation across various sectors such as trade, investment, education, culture, and technology.

Commitment to Sustainable Development

The Saudi-South African Joint Committee was established in 1990 to deepen cooperation across various sectors. It has evolved into a comprehensive platform addressing both traditional areas of collaboration and new opportunities. This session reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to enhancing international partnerships for Vision 2030's sustainable development goals.

As discussions continue, joint working groups will create action plans to turn dialogue into measurable outcomes. The session will conclude with new agreements and memoranda of understanding being signed, further strengthening the strategic partnership between both nations.

With inputs from SPA