Cape Town: International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, will host his United Kingdom counterpart, David Lammy, on Tuesday, 5 November 2024, in Cape Town. According to the department, the meeting between the Minister and the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development will focus on strengthening relations between the two nations.
According to South African Government News Agency, the UK is one of South Africa’s most significant bilateral partners, particularly in trade, investment, skills development, science, innovation, the Just Energy Transition and tourism, among others, as stated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
According to Lammy’s office, he began his visit to the continent in Nigeria, marking his first trip to Africa as Foreign Secretary and the first to visit South Africa since 2013. Committing to a fresh approach to Africa, Lammy announced the start of a five-month consultation process to ensure African voices
inform and sit at the very heart of the United Kingdom’s new approach to the continent. Lammy’s Office emphasized that this consultation will guarantee the UK’s relationships across Africa are based on mutual respect and partnership.
Lammy believes Africa has huge growth potential, with the continent on track to make up 25% of the world’s population by 2050. He stated that the new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, aiming for long-term growth and building a freer, safer, more prosperous continent. He expressed a desire to hear what African partners need and to foster relationships for mutual growth between the UK and Africa.
Growth is the core mission of the UK government, Lammy pointed out, and will underpin relationships in Nigeria, South Africa, and beyond. This strategy aims to create more jobs, prosperity, and opportunities for people in both regions.
In South Africa, Lammy’s Office announced the development of a new United Kingdom-South Africa Growth Plan. Thi
s plan aims to enhance trade through collaboration on market access, a new UK Trade Partnership programme to boost South African exports, and a new programme to increase agricultural jobs in rural South Africa. This initiative is intended to boost trade for Brits while enhancing opportunities within South Africa.
At the biennial United Kingdom-South Africa bilateral forum, the Foreign Secretary and Lamola will refresh the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to 2030, raising joint ambition on climate, nature, trade, and security. They will also commit to cooperation for the next two years on trade and investment, energy transition, and security.
South African exports to the United Kingdom supported over 137,000 jobs in 2020, and the renewal of a risk-sharing partnership between British International Investment and Standard Chartered aims to provide trade finance for SMEs and corporates operating across Africa and Asia. The statement from Lammy’s office highlighted the importance of green growth.
While in S
outh Africa, Lammy will celebrate climate innovation at the Earthshot+ thought leadership conference.