(Ecofin Agency) - The visit is announced a few months after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Côte d'Ivoire, strengthening cooperation between the two countries. New agreements are expected during that visit.  

South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire are expected to sign new agreements during Ivorian Head of State Alassane Ouattara's (photo) visit to South Africa next Friday. The information was disclosed in a release issued by the South African presidency on Tuesday. 

During the visit, the two presidents will discuss bilateral cooperation and take part in the South Africa - Côte d'Ivoire business forum. According to the release issued by the South African presidency, the visit is “President Ouattara’s reciprocal visit to South Africa following President Ramaphosa’s successful State visit to Côte d’Ivoire in December 2021.”

The said release informs that the Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) established between the two countries in December 2015 has facilitated their political, economic, social, cultural, scientific, and technical cooperation. Thus, "nine (9) Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and Agreements have been signed between the two countries in sectors such as Agriculture, Mining, Transport, Telecommunications and Defence" since its establishment.

"The bilateral trade between South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire remains on an upward trajectory. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, total trade between the two countries increased from R1.3 billion in 2019 to R2.0 billion in 2021. This represented an increase of about R774 million of total trade between the two countries," the release indicates.

Jean-Marc Gogbeu