By Hassan Isilow
JOHANNESBURG (AA) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his visiting German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed on Tuesday to further strengthen their diplomatic and trade relations.
“We agreed to continue our efforts to further expand trade and investment between South Africa and Germany,” Ramaphosa told reporters during a joint briefing with Steinmeier in the city of Cape Town.
He said South Africa welcomes the opportunity to renew and deepen its political, trade, investment and people-to-people relations with Germany.
Ramaphosa said it has been 20 years since South Africa last hosted a German president on an official visit.
Steinmeier said he was pleased with South Africa’s fight against corruption and believes this will attract more German companies to invest in the continent’s most industrialized economy.
‘‘German companies don’t only invest in a country for profit, but also to train their employees,’’ he said.
Ramaphosa agreed with Steinmeier’s comment, saying German companies are among those that are empowering South Africa’s youth by developing their skills through vocational training, and increasing opportunities for gainful employment.
The two leaders whose countries have been elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for 2019-2020, agreed to work together to promote global peace and security.
“We have agreed that we can do much more together,” Steinmeier said.
They also agreed to promote and strengthen multilateralism.
The German leader said they also discussed challenges of growing nationalism in Europe which they are out to challenge.
Steinmeier who travelled with a business delegation said the investment environment in South Africa is conducive as it has good infrastructure, strong legal system and other institutions.
Germany is South Africa’s third-largest global trading partner and one of the largest foreign investors, with more than 600 companies operating in South Africa. The German companies have created approximately 100,000 jobs.
