Kananaskis: South Africa views the Group of Seven (G7) as a strategic partner in its efforts to drive climate resilience, promote a just energy transition, and secure value-added investment in its rich mineral resources. This perspective was shared by President Cyril Ramaphosa following his participation in the G7 Summit Outreach Session during his working visit to Canada. The session took place on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit, held in Kananaskis, Alberta.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa expressed the importance of greater cooperation with the G7 in areas such as investment, financing for development, international crime, climate change, and inclusive global growth and development. The G7 encompasses the largest advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union also participating in the summits.
The Outreach Session aimed to explore leadership and collaboration in energy security, focusing on technology, innovation, diversification, and strengthening critical mineral supply chains. This theme aligns with South Africa’s national interests and priorities as the current G20 President.
President Ramaphosa highlighted climate change and its devastating effects as central to South Africa’s message to the G7 leaders. He emphasized the need for sufficient funding to address the repeated incidents of floods and droughts affecting KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and parts of the Western Cape.
On the economic front, the President advocated for a shift in the global approach to Africa’s critical minerals by stressing the importance of beneficiation and inclusive value chains. He underscored the need for investors to recognize South Africa’s vision of moving beyond raw exports to value-added production.
During the summit, President Ramaphosa also engaged in bilateral meetings with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, and the Republic of Korea, which he described as beneficial for South Africa’s diplomatic and economic engagements. He welcomed the strengthening of cooperation between South Africa and Canada, particularly in relation to the G20 and the G7, noting the potential for alignment with the African Agenda.