Saudi Arabia, South Africa to Discuss Agreements on Technologies, Green Economy, Hydrogen

Saudi Arabia, South Africa to Discuss Agreements on Technologies, Green Economy, Hydrogen

A senior South African diplomat said that negotiations were underway to sign cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia that would cover various sectors, including agriculture, industry, green economy, climate and technology.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, South Africa’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Mogobo David Magabe, said that his country was determined to advance its agricultural, industrial and mining cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the coming period, along with the green economy, climate and technology.

He stressed that he was looking forward to the influx of large Saudi investments, especially in the energy sector.

Saudi Arabia maintains its position as the second largest export market for South Africa in the GCC region, after the UAE, with total bilateral trade approaching USD 40 billion in 2021, according to the ambassador.

He added that in 2021 total exports to the Kingdom amounted to USD 3.3 billion, while total imports reached USD 36.5 billion.

According to Magabe, South Africa and Saudi Arabia were renowned for their progress in the field of digital technologies; therefore bilateral cooperation in this field would further enhance this reputation.

“We are also exploring new areas of economic cooperation, especially in investment, agriculture, tourism, transportation, health, and the exchange of experiences in various fields such as