Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma has called on the business sector to seize investment and trade opportunities in Burundi following his first official meeting with Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza.
President Jacob Zuma said this when briefing journalists at Tuynhuys in Parliament on Tuesday when he received the Burundi President on his first ever official state visit to South Africa.
The President said trade between the two countries have risen steadily from R47.7 million to R52 million in 2013.
“This visit should also enable us to discuss further how to take advantage of the potential that exists to enhance trade and investment.
“The business people from both countries should certainly improve these figures by further exploring opportunities in the two countries,” he said.
The Burundi President was accompanied by a delegation of Ministers, from those responsible for arts and culture to those responsible for international relations.
President Zuma was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashamaite, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana, amongst others.
The President said the meeting led to the signing of an agreement to structure the relationship through the Joint Commission for Cooperation.
He said the two countries had signed cooperation agreements in the fields of Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Commerce, Education, Politics, Defence, Sports, Mining, Women Empowerment, Investment, Health, Science and Technology, Communications, Public Works and Finance.
“Our two countries share a rich history of struggle against discrimination and other ills.
“It is only proper that we should cooperate in sharing this history through cultural tourism, museums, the restoration of historic sites, the preservation and conservation of monuments, the study of languages, literature and lecture tours,” President Zuma said.
Burkina Faso developments a lesson to African leaders and the world
The President said, meanwhile, that the political developments in Burkina Faso, where its President Nkurunziza was forced to step down and flee the country after mass protests broke out when he tried to change the law to extend his 27-year rule.
President Zuma said it was clear that people who vote leaders into power were opposed to any acts that undermined the Constitution.
“There is a need to align the thinking of government and the people who elect the leaders.
“What has happened in Burkina Faso is because there seems to be no alignment of the leaders and the people.
I think that is a lesson that Africa should accept that the time for democracy has arrived. If you don’t respect the rules that have happened, there will be trouble,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
