By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed European Union (EU) Council President, Charles Michel’s pledge that commits the European Union to supporting Africa’s efforts to achieving food security.
Ramaphosa hosted President Michel at his official Mahlambandlopfu residence on Tuesday.
The bilateral meeting centred around cementing the South Africa-EU strategic partnership and discussing key trade and peace and security issues
Since the adoption of TDCA, total trade increased from R150 billion in 2000 to R843bn in 2021.
Exports to the EU increased steadily over the years, growing from R64bn in 2000 to R482bn in 2021. During the same period, imports from the EU also increased from R86bn in 2000 to R361bn in 2021.
In a statement presidency, said in this regard a joint project plan was agreed to assist Africa in developing its own fertiliser production capacity. The commitment follows positive reception to Ramaphosa’s proposal to the G7 countries at the recent G7 summit hosted in Germany, that Africa be enabled to invest in developing its fertiliser to deal with food insecurity.
“We want African countries to be self-reliant when it comes to fertiliser production and we are going to be working with the G7 countries to see how best we can reach that level, “Ramaphosa told world leaders there.
“Ramaphosa also welcomed the reflection on strengthening and growing existing bilateral trade ties and the commitment to resolve current and urgent trade matters particularly on the export of citrus products from South Africa to the EU.
“He supported the process of further discussions to be held at ministerial level to work out a solution that will allow for sustained trade in the citrus sub-sector, “Presidency added.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left South Africa’s citrus farmers in limbo, faced with millions of dollars in losses due to the international sanctions that have closed off the traditional Russian market.
South Africa is the world’s second largest citrus exporter and Pretoria is scrambling to find other markets to keep the vast sector afloat, amid the Russia/Ukraine conflict which started in February.
On peace and security, Ramaphosa was encouraged ” by the expression of EU support to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) efforts in stabilising the security situation in Mozambique.
Ramaphosa also commended the “positive development” of the EU-Africa partnership, which continues to flourish following the AU-EU Summit held in February 2022 in Brussels.