UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Tuesday that the UK and South Africa will work together to 'drive economic growth and turbocharge infrastructure investment', as per the government website www.gov.uk.

The announcement comes at the beginning of the state visit of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa is the first South African president to visit the UK in the last three years, and will be hosted by Prince Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace for the two-day trip, BBC reports. Ramaphosa will also address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, the report adds.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insists he's got the UK economy back on track after a wobble under his predecessor Liz Truss
AFP

Keeping the visit in mind, the announcement made by the Prime Minister is significant and will pave the way for the next phase of the UK-South Africa Infrastructure Partnership. This partnership is significant for South Africa as well since it provides for major investment in infrastructure projects and offers increased penetration and access to British companies in projects which are worth up to £5.37bn ($6.36 bn) over the next three years. The UK will also provide funding to South Africa to tap its green hydrogen resources.

Significantly, Globeleq, a UK firm, announced that they have sealed agreements over six solar projects which will be launched in South Africa in the next year.

In the announcement, Prime Minister Sunak said, "South Africa is already the UK's biggest trading partner on the continent, and we have ambitious plans to turbocharge infrastructure investment and economic growth together. I look forward to welcoming President Ramaphosa to London this week to discuss how we can deepen the partnership between our two great nations and capitalise on shared opportunities, from trade and tourism and security and defence."

He also added that the two countries will invest in "shared learning in vocal and technical education." "The UK's relationship with South Africa is hugely important to us. Together we are working to deliver for the British and South African people, creating jobs, enhancing trade and investment, and boosting inclusive economic growth," said UK foreign secretary James Cleverly.

South Africa is an important nation for the United Kingdom since the former is at present the only African nation in the G20 body, and it acts as the gateway to a huge number of business investments in the African continent for British companies.