President Cyril Ramaphosa will host visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday at the Union Buildings, Pretoria.
Scholz is on his first trip to Africa as chancellor. His whistle-stop tour has seen him visit Senegal, Niger, and now South Africa.
“Chancellor Scholz will visit South Africa at the invitation of President Ramaphosa and will be accompanied by senior officials and business executives,” the Presidency said on the eve of the visit.
“The visit is of great importance due to the strategic nature of South Africas relationship with Germany.”
Germany is South Africas second-largest trading partner and in tourism, the third-largest single source of overseas arrivals.
Germany is also a major investment source and development partner.
“President Ramaphosa and Chancellor Scholz will exchange views on a number of issues of bilateral and international concern, including ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as energy and climate change, trade and investment, and responses to Covid-19 and vaccine demand,” the Presidency said.
“They will also reflect on developments on the African continent and internationally, including the conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the international economy and food and energy security.”
Germany also holds the G7 Presidency for 2022.
“In this context the leaders will exchange views on Germanys G7 priorities and how these could benefit emerging economies and the African continent in particular,” said the Presidency.
Trade and Investment are major components of bilateral relations.
South Africas total trade with Germany is R266 billion and its exports, a big percentage of which consist of value-added products, account for R155 billion a year.
About 600 German companies are represented in South Africa and are a source of investment, employment and skills development.
“President Ramaphosa will also join Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the launch of a South African-German consortium that will advance technology research for the production of sustainable aviation fuels,” said the Presidency.
“This engagement will be hosted at Sasol Place in Sandton.”
