President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Friday, hosted Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara for a State visit, in Pretoria, where Ramaphosa said trade between both countries is steadily improving.

He further stated that there were significant opportunities for investment in several industries, which would be explored through bilateral agreements.

Ramaphosa said South African exports to Côte d'Ivoire have recovered after a decline in 2019, noting that the value of imports from Côte d'Ivoire had doubled in the last five years.

Several South Africa companies operate in Côte d'Ivoire in industries such as telecommunications, broadcasting, banking and insurance.

“There are significant opportunities for investment in several other industries, which we will further explore through the bilateral agreements we have signed. We will also be exploring these opportunities through engagements such as the South Africa-Côte d'Ivoire Business Forum, which President Ouattara and I will be attending this afternoon,” Ramaphosa said.

During Ramaphosa’s visit to Abidjan in December, nine Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were signed. An additional six agreements were signed on Friday.

Ramaphosa expects trade, investment and tourism between the two countries to improve through the commencement of flights by Air Côte d’Ivoire between Johannesburg and Abidjan. 

It was likely to contribute to increased traffic not only between the two countries, but also between the Southern and the West African regions, he believed.

Ramaphosa also mentioned that the commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement was expected to provide a further boost to the countries’ trade relations.

Meanwhile, he welcomed the important role of Côte d’Ivoire in contributing to peace and stability in West Africa and pledged the country’s support of the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2021.

“We noted the importance of multilateralism within the global system of governance. We agreed to continue to defend and promote the primacy of the United Nations in resolving the challenges facing the international community,” he said.