Remarks by Hon Ms Maropene Ramokgopa, Minister in The Presidency for Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, on the occasion of the 52nd National Day of the United Arab Emirates
Your Excellency Ambassador Mahash Saeed Alhameli, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of South Africa and Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps,
Honorable Ministers and Members of Cabinet
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Heads of International Organisations and Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is my honor and privilege to join you on this evening on this important occasion on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of South Africa.
On behalf of His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Government and People of South Africa, I wish to convey our sincere felicitations and congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the Government and people of the UAE on this auspicious occasion, which marks the 52nd National Day of the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 2023.
The commemoration and celebration of this National Day affords the United Arab Emirates the opportunity to reflect on its past achievements with a sense of pride, whilst, simultaneously casting its vision to the future with a sense of firm resolve and determination.
It is befitting then, that on this auspicious occasion, we take the opportunity to recognize the achievements of the Government and People of the United Arab Emirates in celebrating 2023 as the Year of Sustainability under the theme, “Today for Tomorrow”, based on weaving a legacy of resilience and innovation as we honor the past and as we forge ahead into the future.
Your Excellency,
South Africa and the United Arab Emirates share a proud legacy of our historic partnership and bilateral relationship. Our diplomatic relations were formalised in 1994 at the inception of our democratic transition. In 2024, we will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations whilst it will also be the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with the UAE.
We recall that the United Arab Emirates was amongst the first of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council to recognize a democratic South Africa, heralding the beginning of a long-standing constructive bilateral relationship. South Africa continuously seeks to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships with friendly countries, and regional and international organisations.
We are excited that the United Arab Emirates is one of six countries invited to become full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024. South Africa welcomes all the new members of BRICS as we forge a new path for inclusivity and cooperation in the Global South.
We are very much aware of what new members could contribute to the BRICS bloc and our joint cooperation in the context of BRICS will certainly also impact positively on our bilateral cooperation initiatives.
The United Arab Emirates remains an important friend and regional partner to the Republic of South Africa. We further recognize the important role the Government of the United Arab Emirates assumes in the Gulf Region and the broader international arena.
South Africa and the United Arab Emirates maintain similar views on many international issues and we share a strong belief that only through meaningful dialogue, negotiations and inclusive mediation can conflicts be peacefully resolved.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our two countries are in a process of strengthening our level of engagement and the various high-level visits that have been undertaken attest to this growing and dynamic relationship.
We hope to further strengthen our collaboration in related sectors in the future. It is our hope as we move forward, to intensify high-level interaction between the leadership of our two countries.
On 13 June 2023 Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini co-chaired the 3rd session of the SA-UAE Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) in Abu Dhabi with the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan al Nahyan. This event provided renewed impetus to further enhance our bilateral relationship. Both have also been designated by the respective Foreign Ministers as Ministerial Envoys to strengthen our bilateral relations which is a further positive initiative to enhance our cooperation.
We appreciate the United Arab Emirates’ continued interest in investing in South Africa and the African continent. The post-Covid economic reconstruction and recovery is at the forefront of the agenda for South Africa and the relevant South African entities will continue to engage with the United Arab Emirates partners.
The United Arab Emirates is South Africa’s largest trading partner in the Middle East with bilateral trade in 2022 amounting to R109 billion. South African exports amounted to R42 billion while South African imports amounted to R67 billion.
The United Arab Emirates companies based in South Africa and South African companies based in the United Arab Emirates continue to enjoy a stable and thriving economic environment, which reflects our deep sense of commitment towards strengthening economic relations between our two countries. Both our countries continue to increase investment and opportunities that will deepen trade relations.
Your Excellency, Ambassador Alhameli,
South Africa appreciates the various support through donations of medical, learning, and other materials and equipment, that were received over the last few years. These donations supported the upliftment of South Africa’s most vulnerable and marginalised communities and provided great relief to those that were severely affected by the floods, especially in KwaZulu Natal.
At the 5th South African Investment Conference in South Africa in April this year, President Ramaphosa called on international investors to upscale investments in South Africa, to address the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
We have exceeded our previous five-year target for investment, with R1,5 trillion in new investments. The next five-year plan, which the President announced, aims to raise R2 trillion. South Africa remains an investment destination with significant untapped investment potential and opportunities.
A recent noticeable trend is investment in renewable energy as evidenced by the One hundred and eighty million US Dollar investment by AMEA Power in the Doornhoek solar plant in Mpumalanga.
South Africa congratulates the United Arab Emirates on hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP28 Conference in December 2023 wherein His Excellency President Ramaphosa will participate.
We have confidence in the UAE’s stewardship of this crucial event to accelerate global action to address climate change, in the context of Just Transitions, Sustainable Development and the Right to Development.
Excellencies, Dear friends,
As you are all aware of the challenges facing the world globally, both our countries should be among those spreading the culture of peace, dialogue, assistance to marginalized communities, the mitigation of impact of disasters and meeting the requirements of the vulnerable. This approach will enable our countries to build a positive, proud image and to forge ties of fruitful cooperation and integration with other countries and peoples of the world.
In conclusion, I wish to reiterate, on behalf of H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Government and the People of South Africa, we wish to extend to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Government and the people of the United Arab Emirates our congratulations on the celebration of the 52nd Anniversary of the United Arab Emirates.
May the friendship between our countries continue to grow stronger
I thank you.
