Pretoria - As the leading economies on the continent, South Africa and Nigeria should be at the forefront of integrating Africa into the global economy, says President Jacob Zuma.
By working together, South African and Nigerian companies will contribute meaningfully to the developmental agenda of the African continent as a whole. This, President Zuma said, is in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063.
“South Africa and Nigeria should unite and work together towards achieving the vision of a prosperous Africa in which all of its citizens benefit from its natural resources.
“The abundant mineral wealth in our continent, which is making other continents richer, must improve the lives of Africans. It must help us defeat poverty, disease and helplessness amongst our peoples,” the President said in his address to the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said this was imperative, especially with the global economic downturn that has impacted developing economies due to the falling prices of the commodities from which they gain much of their revenue.
“These developments have just made it more urgent that we diversify away from our reliance on raw materials and fast track our industrialisation and regional integration efforts,” he said.
President Zuma said businesses in both countries should also begin pursuing opportunities that will come about as a result of regional integration and intra-African trade efforts, which will create the Continental Free Trade Area.
The two countries should also unite in bringing about peace and stability in the continent, through providing maximum support to the peace and security efforts of the African Union.
“Our people need peace. They need development and they need to see their lives getting better every day. This state visit has given me great hope that Nigeria and South Africa are ready to work together more than ever before in the promotion of prosperity, good governance, peace and security and a better life for our peoples,” said the President.
President Zuma is currently on a two-day state visit to strengthen bilateral and economic relations with the oil-rich West African nation.
The two countries conduct their bilateral relations through a structured Bi-National Commission (BNC) established in 1999 and have signed 34 bilateral agreements, including memoranda of understanding.
The BNC covers a broad range of areas including trade and investment, science and technology, immigration and consular matters, defence, agriculture, the environment, energy, as well as arts and culture.
The two sides have decided to elevate the commission to Head of State level, which will be chaired by President Zuma and President Muhammadu Buhari. - SAnews.gov.za
