The 10th session of the Saudi-South African Joint Committee successfully concluded today in Riyadh, significantly strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

The session was co-chaired by His Excellency Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and His Excellency Parks Tau, South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, with extensive participation from government delegations and private sector representatives from both countries.

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In his opening address, Minister Alkhorayef emphasised the strategic importance of the Saudi-South African partnership in the context of Saudi Vision 2030’s transformative economic agenda.

He articulated a forward-looking vision for bilateral cooperation that extends beyond traditional trade relationships to encompass comprehensive partnerships in knowledge transfer, technological innovation, and human capital development.

Minister Tau echoed this sentiment, describing the session as an important milestone in the advancement of Saudi–South African relations. He emphasised that the convening of this 10th session asserted a mutual commitment to translating the strategic partnership into concrete initiatives that yield tangible benefits for both nations.

The session featured comprehensive discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation across numerous sectors, with both parties expressing strong commitment to expanding collaboration in economic, developmental, and social fields.

The discussions reiterated the importance of creating sustainable partnerships that contribute to long-term development goals while addressing immediate economic priorities.

Both sides recognised the crucial role of private sector engagement in realising the full potential of Saudi-South African cooperation and committed to creating an enabling environment for business partnerships and joint ventures.

A key component of the session involved mutual presentations of investment opportunities. “Invest Saudi” initiative detailed the extensive incentives and support mechanisms available to South African investors, highlighting priority sectors and streamlined investment processes.

Meanwhile, the South African delegation presented compelling opportunities in sectors including mining, agriculture, and energy, emphasising the country’s advanced regulatory framework and growing investment appeal.

The committee agreed to launch several qualitative initiatives spanning multiple sectors, including trade, investment, energy, mining, and infrastructure development. Both nations committed to enhancing cooperation in agricultural technology and food security, healthcare and medical research, as well as environmental protection and logistics management.

A particular focus was placed on developing integrated transportation partnerships, including maritime and air transport agreements designed to expand the movement of goods and services between the two countries and their respective regions.

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The committee’s agenda included a speech by the Deputy Minister of International Economic Affairs at the the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Rakan Tarabzouni. He reviewed the most prominent areas of proposed cooperation and restated the commitment of various ministries and entiites to supporting qualitative partnerships between the two countries.

The Saudi delegation included comprehensive representation from key ministries and government entities, including Foreign Affairs, Interior, Energy, Investment, Culture, Sports, Justice, Health, Human Resources and Social Development, Environment, Water and Agriculture, Economy and Planning, Communications and Information Technology, and Finance.

The delegation also included representatives from the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, the General Authority for Foreign Trade, the Saudi Fund for Development, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the Federation of Saudi Chambers.

The South African delegation comprised senior officials from multiple ministries and agencies, including Commerce, Industry and Competition; Electricity and Energy; Mineral and Petroleum Resources; Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Transport; Social Development; Higher Education and Training; Science, Technology and Innovation; Home Affairs; and the Bureau of Standards.

The session concluded with the signing of the minutes of the tenth session, which documented all proposed initiatives and agreements reached during the meetings. Both parties agreed to hold the eleventh session of the Joint Committee in the Republic of South Africa, emphasising the importance of maintaining momentum and ensuring effective implementation of the agreements reached.

The ministers stressed the need for continued high-level engagement and the establishment of effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the outcomes of the session translate into concrete results that benefit both nations.

Key highlights:

• South Africa showcased opportunities in mining, agriculture, and energy, while Saudi Arabia’s “Invest Saudi” initiative highlighted incentives for South African investors.

• Agreements reached to expand cooperation in renewable energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure and logistics, aligned with South Africa’s priorities of energy security, food security and job creation.
• Both nations committed to technology transfer, skills development and innovation partnerships, advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and delivering benefits for citizens in both countries.
• Monitoring mechanisms will be put in place to ensure commitments translate into concrete outcomes for citizens of both nations.
• Next session to be hosted in South Africa.