Cape Town – International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor has welcomed Egypt into the BRICS group of major emerging economies.
“This development further enhances the role the South plays in global matters,” she said on Friday.
During the 10th Session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC), Pandor discussed increasing trade and investment between South Africa and Egypt, highlighting the need for a Business Council to facilitate partnerships.
She also encouraged leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for easier trade.
“As an important blueprint and contributor to integration, the AfCFTA lessens the barriers towards trade, promotes preferential trade and provides an enabling framework, which will be mutually beneficial to both our two countries and the continent in general.”
Pandor acknowledged Egypt’s historical support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and emphasised the importance of regional integration.
The JCC covered various areas of cooperation, and Pandor called for vigilance in promoting peace and stability amidst global conflicts.
She expressed concern over unilateralism and the humanitarian crises in Palestine and the Saharawi region, advocating for dialogue and UN reform for peaceful conflict resolution.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
