Hey, guess what? President Cyril Ramaphosa is heading to Qatar for a State Visit, and it’s going to be a big deal! He’s been invited by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar. This visit is all part of a two-day engagement between South Africa and Qatar, and it’s a pretty special occasion because the two countries are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations next year. Can you believe it? President Ramaphosa has never been to Qatar as Head of State, so this is a first for him.
The visit is going to be packed with meetings and high-level business stuff. President Ramaphosa and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani are going to talk about all sorts of important global issues. They’re really keen on boosting their economic ties, especially when it comes to trade, investment, and tourism. Did you know that Qatar is now South Africa’s fifth-largest trading partner in the Middle East? That’s a pretty big deal!
There’s a lot of potential for even more cooperation between the two countries. In 2022, South Africa exported a whopping USD 206 million worth of trade to Qatar, with most of it coming from the manufacturing sector. And get this, South Africa has been importing a lot from Qatar too, mainly petroleum oils. The imports amounted to USD 252 million in 2022.
But here’s the really exciting part – the President is taking a high-level business delegation with him, and they’re going to explore all kinds of opportunities for cooperation. They’re looking at things like the creative industries, energy, mining, agro-processing, retail, healthcare, tourism, and shipbuilding. South Africa is already a big investor in Qatar, especially in the petrochemical-related sector. They’ve invested around USD 8.7 billion, and they’ve got this amazing gas-to-liquids plant called ORYX GTL. It’s the first of its kind in the world!
Now, let’s talk about the serious stuff. The governments of South Africa and Qatar are really worried about the conflict in Palestine and the violations of human rights and humanitarian law. They’re going to have some serious discussions about how to prevent the conflict from spreading and find a peaceful resolution. South Africa is also really grateful for Qatar’s efforts to mediate in the crisis.
The President is not going alone on this trip. He’s taking a whole bunch of Ministers with him, including the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation; Trade, Industry and Competition; Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Mineral Resources and Energy; Defence, Basic Education and the Minister in the Presidency. It’s going to be a big team!
So, there you have it! President Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Qatar is going to be a pretty big deal, and it’s all about strengthening the ties between South Africa and Qatar. Let’s hope it leads to some great things for both countries!