Brussels: President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for global investments under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative to be structured in a way that empowers African countries and supports their own development priorities, rather than creating new forms of dependency. The President was delivering a statement at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on Thursday, hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to South African Government News Agency, the forum presented an opportunity to advance cooperation between Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe in pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth. President Ramaphosa emphasized that Africa is striving for universal access to energy through diversification, equitable financing, and technology transfer. He noted the importance of structuring substantial investments through the Global Gateway in a manner that empowers African countries rather than replacing one dependency with another. The investments should enable African countries to pursue development paths suited to their circumstances and the needs of their people.
The Global Gateway Forum brings together leaders from around the world to discuss clean, secure, and sustainable investment in infrastructure and connectivity across regions. President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the strategic partnership with the European Union, which he said had evolved in scope and substance over the years. He highlighted the deepened cooperation and shared values in areas such as climate resilience, digital connectivity, transport infrastructure, vaccine production, and trade that were established during the South Africa-EU Summit held in Cape Town earlier this year.
President Ramaphosa stressed the need for Africa to be an equal partner in trade and industrialization, calling for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers that constrain African exports to the EU. He noted that investment and trade should foster industrialization on the continent and support Africa’s vision for energy security and diversification. He also outlined South Africa’s efforts in advancing renewable energy, safeguarding energy security, and enabling social and economic development through a just transition.
Additionally, President Ramaphosa used the Brussels forum to reaffirm South Africa’s readiness to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit next month, under the theme: ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.’ He highlighted the key priority for the Summit to address the unsustainable debt burdens faced by developing economies, particularly in Africa. He announced the establishment of a G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, to present recommendations on global inequality at the Summit.
President Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s stance on the reform of international financial institutions to ensure that multilateral development banks can better tackle global challenges. He called for stronger action against predatory mining practices, fair management of critical minerals, and greater climate financing support to developing economies in the Global South. Concluding his address, the President expressed South Africa’s commitment to working closely with the European Union to ensure that shared ambitions translate into tangible outcomes benefiting citizens across continents.