Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to visit Qatar on Wednesday, at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to engage in discussions with the Qatari government.
The talks will cover various issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where both nations share concerns about human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
The leaders will explore efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading and work towards a peaceful resolution.
The visit aims to strengthen economic ties between South Africa and Qatar, with trade, investment, and tourism being key focus areas.
“The governments of South Africa and Qatar share deep concern regarding the conflict, notably the unfolding human catastrophe in Palestine, violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, the large-scale loss of life and the ongoing hostilities, especially in Gaza.
“The leaders will discuss respective efforts to ensure that the conflict does not escalate to other parts of the region and that a peaceful resolution is found. South Africa also welcomes Qatar’s mediation efforts in this crisis,” the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.
Qatar has become South Africa’s fifth-largest trading partner in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on the manufacturing and petroleum sectors.
The President will be accompanied by a high-level business delegation to explore cooperation opportunities in various industries.
South Africa is a significant investor in Qatar, particularly in the petrochemical sector, with a total investment of approximately USD 8.7 billion.
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Picture: Twitter/@PresidencyZA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
