Tanzania-South Africa Finalizes 17 MOUs Including Trade And Investment Opportunities, Ramaphosa Reveals

President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed that Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan's official state visit was a success as they have finalized 17 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), which the respective ministers will sign before the end of this year.

"This State visit has coincided with the 2nd Session of South Africa - Tanzania Bi-National Commission," Ramaphosa said on Thursday, SA News reported. "We have had the opportunity to take stock of the state of our bilateral cooperation and to identify new areas of cooperation."

Ramaphosa further announced other MOUs have also been finalized, which will also be signed by the respective ministers.

This process will be handled and coordinated by the foreign ministries of the two countries, and supported by a Mid-Term Review Mechanism, which will look into the implementation of the Bi-National Commission's work.

The 70-year-old president also shared that aside from talks about improving relations between South Africa and Tanzania, other regional and international matters were also discussed.

"Among other matters, we reaffirmed our shared resolve to ensure that the people of Western Sahara are able to exercise their right to self-determination," Ramaphosa continued. "We will resist any efforts to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of the Saharawi people or to diminish their standing within the African Union."

Ramaphosa noted that Tanzania and South Africa have similar "values and aspirations" when it comes to the development and stability of the continent.

"There is indeed still much work to be done, but I am confident that we have laid a firm basis on which all of us can build going forward," he concluded.

President Hassan, on the other hand, shared that her state visit was "colorful and fruitful," adding that it "attests to the solid historical relations that exist between our two countries."

The 63-year-old president further noted that she was "confident" that this visit will help to further solidify "long-standing ties and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment" between South Africa and Tanzania.

President Hassan concluded her statement by saying: "Long live the bilateral ties and cooperation between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa!"

The trade between both countries has increased from 6.89 billion rand in 2021 to 8.71 billion rand in 2022.

The ceremony held on Thursday crowns the second session of the South Africa-Tanzania Bi-National Commission, which consists of four committees including Political and Diplomatic, Defense and Security, Economic Affairs and Social and Cultural Affairs.

Ramaphosa issued a statement earlier this week, explaining the importance of the Bi-National Commission.

"The Bi-National Commission is a platform for strengthening cooperation, especially in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, transport, energy, water, science and innovation, education, defense, agriculture, environment, health and culture, among others," Ramaphosa said.