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His Majesty Prince Philippe and Her Majesty Queen Mathilda of the Kingdom of Belgium will undertake a State Visit to South Africa from 22 to 27 March 2023 at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

The visit – the first to South Africa by the Belgian monarchy – is a demonstration of the strong bilateral relations that exist between the two countries.

The State Visit will serve to expand and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and revitalise economic relations with a focus on trade, foreign direct investment, and tourism. 

South Africa and Belgium are also pursuing cooperation in renewable energy and in particular, green hydrogen. 

Belgium is one of South Africa’s most important economic partners and many of South Africa’s exports enter Europe through the Port of Antwerp, which is the second largest in the European Union. 

South Africa enjoys a healthy trade surplus with Belgium with organic chemicals as the key export, followed closely by diamonds and motor vehicles. 

Belgian companies are also significant investors in the South African economy. 

Belgium is traditionally among the ten major sources of international tourists to South Africa. 

Relations between South Africa and Belgium are managed through a Joint Commission that meets at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers. 

Mr Alvin Botes, the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation hosted the Fourth Meeting of South Africa – Belgium Joint Commission in Pretoria on 8 November 2022.  

King Philippe’s delegation will comprise political, economic, and academic leadership including the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Hadja Lahbib, as well as the Ministers-President and representatives of the five regions of Belgium.

The programme of the monarchs will include official engagements with President Ramaphosa and members of government as well as visits to Johannesburg and Cape Town where they will engage with academia, business, and civil society, and visit historical and cultural sites. 

MEDIA ACCREDITATION 

Members of the media wishing to cover the Union Buildings programme are requested to submit their details (see attached accreditation form) to Naledi Malatji on naledi@presidency.gov.za. She may be reached on 078 633 6302 

Members of the media who are intend to cover the Business Forum only are requested to submit their details using the same form (see attached accreditation form) to Tshilidzi Mugovhoro via telephone: (012) 394 1399/082 879 6792 or e-mail: TMugovhoro@thedtic.gov.za

The Business Forum will take place as follows: Thursday, 23 March 2023, 14:00 at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Meiring Naude Rd, Brummeria, Pretoria 

Closing Date for accreditation is Monday, 20 March 2023 at 11h00 

Journalists that have been accredited for the state visit do not need to apply for the business forum accreditation.   

Issued by the Presidency