PRETORIA, October 17 (ANA) – Economic co-operation will become more prominent between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the next ten years, President Jacob Zuma said on his return on Saturday from a working visit to the DRC.
Zuma co-chaired a binational commission (BNC) meeting with his counterpart President Joseph Kabila Kabange.
During the meeting, the two heads of state reviewed progress made on bilateral programmes during the first decade of the BNC. These include co-operation projects in the fields of politics and governance, defence and security, economy, finance and infrastructure, and social and humanitarian affairs.
Zuma said the second decade of the BNC should be characterised by strategic co-operation and partnership and enhanced interaction between South Africa and the DRC.
“We have decided that the next decade of our BNC should intensify the implementation of joint economic projects, in particular the Grand Inga Hydropower Project, whose founding treaty was signed on 30 October 2013. We have urged the responsible ministries/departments to finalise all outstanding issues in order to pave the way for the construction of this Pan-African flagship project,” he said.
“In the next ten years, economic relations in the areas of trade, industrialisation, and infrastructure development will be more prominent than they are now.”
In this regard, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the bilateral air services agreement by the ministers responsible for transport. The agreement would enable the two countries to facilitate movement of people and expand aviation co-operation.
Zuma highlighted the fact that more needed to be done to improve economic relations and enhanced co-operation among the South African and DRC business sectors, including in the mining sector, by increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
During the second decade, South Africa would continue to co-operate in the areas of peace and security in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region.
“South Africa commits to continue to accompany and partner with the government and people of the DRC in pursuit of peace, security, stability, and economic development and prosperity,” he said.
The next BNC will be held in South Africa next year.
– African News Agency (ANA)
