Qatari investors invited to explore trade and business opportunities in South Africa

Qatari investors have been invited to discover opportunities for business and trade in South Africa by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Qatari investors will be invited to discover investment opportunities in South Africa, according to Fikile Mbalula, South Africa’s Transport Minister. The comments were made during Mbalula’s recent visit to Qatar. Mbalula said that South Africa offers a wide range of opportunities for business and trade.

According to the Mbalula, who recently met with Qatar’s HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, the South Africa government intends to invite business delegations to the country.

Key sectors

“Indeed, we have vast opportunities for Qatari businesses to invest in and would like them to visit our country and explore partnerships with local businesses. We are looking for investments in the areas of aviation, maritime, rail, and broader transport infrastructure,” Mbalula said in a recent interview. Mbalula highlighted a range of sectors, including aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, aerospace manufacturing and other civil aviation operations alongside transport infrastructure, including rail, road, maritime, and aviation.

“We are looking at projects in the areas of improving competitiveness and efficiency at our ports; growing the aviation sector in the southern Africa region through collaboration and skills development programs, human resource development, and innovation and technology.”

Mbalula has invited al-Sulaiti to visit South Africa in the near future, “I have extended an invitation to His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, to visit South Africa – an invitation that he has graciously accepted. We anticipate that this visit will take place before year-end,” Mbalula said. During his visit, Mbalula held meetings with the Qatari Ministry of Transport and other key organizations and officials.

MoUs under consideration

“There were no agreements signed during this visit. However, we have three agreements that are under consideration and should be signed as soon as relevant processes are finalized. These are the Memorandum of Understanding on transport-related matters and an agreement on co-operation in the field of maritime transport, as well as a memorandum of understanding on mutual recognition of certificates of competence for seafarers,” he said.

Mutual co-operation and bilateral relations

Mbalula added, “My visit to Qatar is at the invitation of HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. The objective of the visit is to discuss matters of mutual co-operation and deepen our bilateral relations. These relations between our respective countries date back to the dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994. The growing bond between our respective nations was strengthened by the visits to Qatar by successive South African presidents from president Nelson Mandela, president Thabo Mbeki, to President Jacob Zuma.”

Trade between Qatar and Africa hit USD 177.4 million in H1 2022.