President Cyril Ramaphosa will this week host his Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan who will be on a state visit to South Africa to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the presidency announced on Tuesday.
The Tanzanian leader is due to jet in on Thursday for the one-day state visit, according to Ramaphosa’s office.
Ramaphosa and Hassan are expected hold talks under the umbrella of the second session of the South Africa-Tanzania Bi-National Commission.
The commission is expected to discuss issues related to the four areas of politics and diplomacy; defence and security; economic affairs, and social and cultural Affairs, the presidency said.
The two leaders would later address a business forum in Pretoria themed “Forging a New Deal Between South Africa and Tanzania Towards High Levels of Trade and Investment.”
The forum is expected to focus on agriculture, agro-processing, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure development.
Tanzania is one of South Africa’s foremost trading partners on the continent, with more than 250 South African companies present in the east African country.
“South Africa wishes to see an increase in trade and investment, and broader economic development between the two countries,” the presidency said.
Official figures show that total trade between South Africa and Tanzania increased from US$383 million in 2021 to US$484 million in 2022.
NM/jn/APA