South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday announced that as part of efforts to strengthen relations with key trading partner Nigeria, he and his counterpart Muhammadi Buhari had decided to elevate the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries to the level of Heads of State.

At the end of official talks in Abuja, Zuma said: “We have recognised the important role played by the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-national Commission since its inception in 1999. As we forge a strategic partnership between the two sister nations, we have decided to elevate the Bi-National Commission (BNC) to the level of Heads of State.

“In this way my Brother and I will be able to lead as well as monitor progress in various areas of cooperation.”

Zuma is on a two-day state visit to Nigeria and is being accompanied by various ministers, as well as a business delegation.

Zuma hailed discussions as “very fruitful” and said they had reviewed various bilateral and multilateral issues.

“We have noted with satisfaction the ever growing cooperation in many sectors including trade and investment, defence and security, immigration matters, energy, mineral resources, to mention but a few.

“Our two countries have signed over 30 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding,” he added. “These agreements cover a wide range of cooperation areas including trade and industry, transport, energy, defence and security and immigration among others.”

Zuma said he and Buhari had directed the relevant ministers to move with speed in implementing all signed agreements.

“We have also directed our Ministers to identify joint projects in the key high impact strategic development areas, which will have socio-economic benefits such as employment creation to our peoples.”

Nigeria is South Africa’s key trading partner on the continent. Prior to 1999, there were only four South African companies in Nigeria, but since 1999, this had changed dramatically, with over 120 South African companies currently doing business in Nigeria in various sectors, mainly telecommunications, banking, retail, property, entertainment and hospitality.

“We welcome this significant development,” Zuma said. “We also see great potential in boosting tourism between the two countries.” According to Statistics South Africa, an average of 4,000 Nigerians travelled to South Africa on a monthly basis in 2015.

Zuma pointed to the fact that in order to promote South Africa as a tourist destination in both the vast Nigerian market and in the West African region as a whole, a Tourism Office was opened in Lagos in January 2014.

“We also encourage South Africans as to tour Nigeria so that we can improve understanding and the appreciation of one another’s culture and way of life.”

Zuma said both countries were committed to creating an enabling environment to ease the manner of doing business and added that he and Buhari had also exchanged views on the current regional political, economic and security situation.

“With regard to continental developments, we discussed issues related to peace and security in the continent,” Zuma said. “We noted with great concern the challenges posed by terrorism and extremist groups that continue to affect some of our countries on the continent, including Nigeria. We condemn in the strongest possible terms all forms of terrorism and extremism.

“During our discussions, we reiterated the need for joint regional and continental efforts towards countering these negative elements,” he added. “Considering our commitment to finding African solutions to African problems, we have agreed to work together to deal with these challenges.”

Zuma is being accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane.