Political consultations of deputy foreign ministers of Poland and South Africa
31.08.2021
- South Africa is one of the most important political and economic partners of Poland in Africa. We appreciate the good dynamics of the bilateral relations established almost exactly 30 years ago and we are working on further strengthening the cooperation between our countries. This will benefit both our nations, said Paweł Jabłoński, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during today's political consultations with Alvin Botes, South Africa's deputy foreign minister.
The main topics discussed during the consultations were bilateral political and economic cooperation, as well as the situation in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Particular attention was paid to economic relations and the possibilities of their further development, so as to fully use the potential of both countries, also taking into account the offer of the Polish high technology sector.
- We see opportunities for Polish companies not only in the sectors of their current activity on the South African market, such as agricultural and industrial products, but also in the area of digitization of administration and banking services, drone management system, cybersecurity and green technologies - said Deputy Minister Jabłoński.
In terms of the level of trade, South Africa is Poland's largest partner on the African continent; mutual turnover is growing annually and in 2020 exceeded one billion USD. Compared to African partners, South Africa is also distinguished by the scale of investments in our country.
Deputy Minister Jabłoński noted with appreciation South Africa's position on the African continent and its involvement in the activities of international organizations, including economic and regional organizations, in particular the African Union and South African Development Community (SADC). He also stressed the important role of South Africa in the context of efforts aimed at stabilizing the security situation in the Cabo Delgado region in the northern part of Mozambique.
In addition to consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his visit to Poland, Deputy Minister Alvin Botes held meetings, among others at the Polish Chamber of Commerce and at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.
Office of the Press Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo: Tymon Markowski/MFA
