South Africa and Uganda open trade talks in Pretoria as Lamola admits investment ties fall short
The third session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation hears that MTN, Standard Bank, Absa and Sanlam already operate in Uganda, but ministers concede the relationship has not reached its potential.
South Africa and Uganda opened the third session of their Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) in Pretoria on Tuesday, with International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola telling delegates that bilateral commitments have to be turned into economic benefit rather than left on paper.
Lamola said the two countries had significant room to expand cooperation in transport, mining, energy, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications and tourism.
“I welcome Uganda’s emphasis on economic diplomacy and on converting diplomatic engagement into tangible trade and investment opportunities. This is an area in which our two countries can work particularly closely. The economic discussions are therefore particularly important,” he said in his opening remarks.
He named MTN, Standard Bank Group, Absa and Sanlam as South African companies that had established operations in Uganda and contributed to that country’s economic development. But he said the investment relationship had yet to reach its full potential, and that both governments needed to address the challenges affecting investors and build a more supportive business environment.
“We should therefore use this JCC to identify practical measures that can make it easier for businesses from both countries to invest and operate in each other’s markets,” Lamola said.
He called for regulatory and administrative barriers to be addressed, trade facilitation improved and cooperation on standards strengthened. A proposed Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment, he said, could serve as the mechanism for identifying opportunities for two-way investment and for monitoring the problems businesses face in each other’s markets. He also pressed for greater effort to help Ugandan businesses and investors expand their presence in South Africa.
On connectivity, Lamola pointed to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement as central to moving people, goods and business between the two countries. He welcomed the expansion of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation system to Ugandan passport holders, saying it could facilitate legitimate short-term travel for business and other eligible purposes. Improved air links, efficient customs procedures and predictable regulatory processes, he said, should form part of broader efforts to support business mobility.
The minister also called for progress in mining, geology, hydrocarbons and energy resources, and for outstanding technical and institutional processes to be completed. Uganda’s commitment to regional integration through the East African Community, he said, presented opportunities for continental economic transformation and for implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Beyond trade, Lamola called for closer coordination between the two countries at the United Nations, the African Union and other multilateral forums, including on African peace and security, development and reform of global governance such as the United Nations Security Council and Africa’s underrepresentation on it. He acknowledged Uganda’s role in regional peace and security efforts in South Sudan, Somalia, the Horn of Africa and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and said South Africa remained committed to African-led approaches to conflict resolution, the protection of civilians and humanitarian access. He also raised concerns about conflicts in Sudan, the DRC, Palestine and Ukraine.
On health, Lamola congratulated Uganda on bringing its Ebola outbreak under control. He noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, had announced an initial US$5 million contribution to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
He further flagged cooperation on defence, security and law enforcement, including extradition, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the transfer of sentenced persons and immigration matters, and urged both delegations to set clear pathways and timeframes for concluding outstanding agreements and memoranda of understanding that still require legal and technical work.
Lamola closed by setting the test for the meeting itself. “The success of this JCC should ultimately be judged by what follows after today: stronger trade and investment, improved connectivity, closer institutional cooperation, greater movement of people, stronger regional cooperation and closer coordination on matters of common interest,” he said.
The JCC session is intended to review progress in bilateral relations, address outstanding matters and identify further areas of cooperation. This report is drawn from the South African Government News Agency’s account of the minister’s opening remarks, not from the full record of the session. SAnews (South African Government News Agency), https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/sa-uganda-seek-boost-trade-and-investment-ties
