Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded his state visit to Nigeria on Thursday, saying he had held extensive discussions with his counterpart President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ramaphosa, who began his four-nation West Africa visit in Nigeria on Tuesday evening, hopes his visit will result in more businesses from the region investing in the country.
He is set to visit Ivory Coast, Ghana as well as Senegal.
Addressing the media at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja just before his departure to Ivory Coast, Ramaphosa said the two countries had reached an agreement on various areas of understanding.
“We’ve had extensive discussions with president Buhari… and reached a lot of areas of understanding and mutual agreement. Our ministers have really done a superb job in terms of negotiating the many agreements and memorandum of understanding.
His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa addresses members of the media on conclusion of his State Visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, facilitated by @PresidencyZA Minister Mondli Gungubele #SAinNigeria #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/O3UzHjyapY
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) December 2, 2021
“Some of the agreements are going to be finalised once we get home and we get a cabinet minute,” said Ramaphosa.
He said a total of 32 agreements had been reached between the two nations.
“Altogether we have some 32 agreements with Nigeria and implementation is going to be closely monitored by president Buhari and myself… We will particularly look at the various outcomes of the meetings that took place,” Ramaphosa said.
He said the visit had “deepened and strengthened the relationship” between the two countries, adding that it had also impressed a number of officials in government.
[NIGERIA]: His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa addresses business delegation ahead of the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum in Abuja, Nigeria #SAinNigeria #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/XJiDNPTyG7
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) December 2, 2021
“They know that we have built a solid foundation to be able to have the opportunity of addressing the problems that were will always arise. We are the two big economies on the continent and there will always be challenges and problems at a people-to-people and business-to-business level. So with this visit we have built a solid foundation to be able to address the challenges that have come our way, said Ramaphosa.
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Ramaphosa’s West Africa visit, which is set to conclude on December 7, serves to reinforce South Africa’s bilateral relations with the countries concerned and to strengthen partnerships directed at African development and co-operation in multilateral forums.
During this visit South Africa and the partner states will explore ways to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area for mutual benefit and with greater support for businesses conducting intra-African trade and investment.
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by a delegation of ministers and business leaders in view of growing economic relations and people-to-people interaction between South Africa and these West African countries.
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