Riyadh: Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef inaugurated the 10th session of the Saudi-South African Joint Committee in Riyadh today. The opening ceremony was attended by South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, alongside senior officials from both nations.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the high-level meeting accelerates the momentum of bilateral relations, building upon the foundation established at the ninth session held in Pretoria in 2022. Both ministers emphasized the importance of advancing the joint roadmap and strengthening cooperation across economic, social, and cultural sectors of mutual interest.
In his opening address, Alkhorayef reiterated the deep-rooted bilateral relations between the two countries, which extend back to the early 1990s. He noted that the partnership has matured into a robust framework grounded in mutual respect and aligned strategic goals, with particularly strong collaborative foundations established across energy, mining, industry, agriculture, and transportation sectors.
Alkhorayef highlighted the pioneering role both nations play in advancing international cooperation through major platforms like the Future Minerals Forum and the Mining Indaba Conference. He noted that their collaboration extends beyond bilateral engagements to actively shape global dialogue on sustainable resource development and economic transformation.
The release added that a central focus of Alkhorayef’s address was the critical need to enhance non-oil trade exchange between the two nations. He emphasized that although current trade volumes demonstrate encouraging dynamism, realizing the full potential of the economic partnership will require moving beyond periodic high-level meetings. He stressed the importance of activating existing agreements through concrete actions, including practical workshops and the implementation of tangible, results-driven projects.
Alkhorayef emphasized that Saudi Arabia and South Africa are steering toward a sustainable future. South Africa’s Climate Change Law of 2024, which came into effect in February, marks a significant step in transitioning to a low-carbon economy and reducing emissions. This aligns closely with the Kingdom’s efforts under the Saudi Green Initiative, through which it is pioneering major solar energy projects, green hydrogen production, and circular carbon economy frameworks.
South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau affirmed that the 10th session will serve as an important milestone in deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations. He further emphasized that this session presents an opportunity to broaden bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, education, culture, and technology. Tau reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to building upon previous successes achieved through bilateral cooperation.
Bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and South Africa have experienced rapid growth, driven by strategic investments and shared economic goals. Notable Saudi investments in South Africa include ACWA Power’s Bokpoort Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in the Northern Cape, alongside other solar and hybrid energy projects. SABIC, a global leader in petrochemicals, maintains a strong presence in South Africa through sales, storage, and distribution centers in Durban, as well as sales offices in Cape Town, reinforcing its regional footprint and fostering collaboration in the petrochemicals sector.
The Saudi-South African Joint Committee was established in 1990 with the objective of deepening cooperation between the two countries across various sectors. The committee has evolved into a comprehensive platform that addresses both traditional areas of collaboration and emerging opportunities.
This 10th session reaffirms the Kingdom’s sustained commitment to enhancing its international partnerships in pursuit of Vision 2030’s sustainable development goals. The productive discussions have established a framework for Saudi-South African relations to advance into a more comprehensive and integrated phase, characterized by deepened coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation.
As the meetings progress, joint working groups will develop concrete action plans to transform dialogue into measurable results. The session will culminate in the signing of new agreements and memoranda of understanding, further strengthening the strategic partnership between both nations.
