International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will on Wednesday, 16 April 2104, co-chair the Second Session of the South Africa-Congo Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) with her Congolese counterpart, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Basile Ikouebe, in Brazzaville.

The South Africa-Congo JCC takes place within the context of the promotion of the African Agenda and is aimed at revitalising the diplomatic, political and economic relations that exist between the two countries.

The two Ministers are expected to discuss the modalities to concretise further cooperation between South Africa and the Republic of Congo in key priority areas that include economic development, trade, agriculture, energy, transport, defence and security as well as diplomatic and political matters.

South Africa enjoys cordial bilateral relations with the Republic of Congo. The formal relations between the two countries are structured through the JCC as a mechanism to monitor and guide the implementation of Agreements.

Total trade between South Africa and the Republic of Congo was approximately R1 billion in 2013.

There are a number of South African companies operating in the Republic of Congo, including, amongst others, MTN, South African Airways (SAA), Sahara African Aviation, Distell, Exxaro, Apalia, and RRL Grindrod. South Africans are also involved in the Republic of Congo's agriculture, nature conservation and tourism industry.