South African Ambassador to Qatar: President Ramaphosa's Visit to Qatar Will Strengthen Bonds of Friendship Between Two Countries
Doha, November 14 (QNA) - HE Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the State of Qatar Ghulam Hoosein Asmal emphasized the great importance of the visit of HE President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa to Doha, noting that the visit is eagerly anticipated by both countries and will strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between them.
In an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Ambassador Asmal noted that the visit of HE President Ramaphosa to the State of Qatar will provide both Pretoria and Doha with more opportunities to consult and discuss ways to develop and strengthen various aspects of their relations, such as economic growth, cultural exchange and political cooperation, pointing that next year, the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
In his statement to QNA, HE the Ambassador explained that both South Africa and the State of Qatar have enormous potential for development, as they have bilateral, sectoral and regional partnerships, in addition to their contributions to global multilateral organizations, in addition to their recognition as mediators in various conflict situations, displaying their diplomatic prowess beyond their geographic borders.
Regarding the conditions in the Gaza Strip, HE the Ambassador stressed that the two countries share the view that the current situation necessitates a fair, just, and comprehensive resolution to the long-standing Palestinian cause.
South Africa has an admirable diplomatic relationship with Qatar, but their economic bond has not yet reached its full potential, His Excellency said noting that Qatar is the 5th largest trading partner of South Africa in the Middle East, with the potential for bilateral trade to grow in this regard. In 2022, South African exports to Qatar increased by 25.6 percent to reach $95.5 million, which represents a significant improvement compared to $76.1 million in 2021, HE the Ambassador added.
In contrast, South African imports from Qatar rose by a staggering 64.54 percent to reach $441.4 million in 2022 compared to $268.3 million in 2021, attributing this primarily to increased imports of mineral oils, he said expressing hope for diversifying South Africa's export basket to Qatar by exporting more value-added goods.
HE the Ambassador went on to say that South Africa has made substantial investments in Qatar, particularly in the petrochemical sector, which has significantly contributed to the growth of both countries' economies, adding that "one of South Africa's most significant investments in the Middle East is Sasol, a leading integrated energy and chemical company with a stake in ORYX GTL, . ORYX GTL is the world's first commercial-scale gas-to-liquids plant and is operated in partnership with Qatar Petroleum. " He explained that it uses Sasol's advanced GTL technology to convert natural gas into high-quality liquid fuel and chemical products, stressing that cooperation of this nature contributes to South Africa's and Qatar's sustainable development.
At the end of his statement to QNA, HE Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the State of Qatar Ghulam Hoosein Asmal praised Qatar's organization of the FIFA World Cup 2022, becoming the first Arab nation to host the event. In 2010, South Africa became the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup, he said emphasizing the success of both countries in hosting and organizing the two tournaments, as they collaborated and shared ideas on overcoming the challenges and making the events successful, leaving a great legacy for world countries. (QNA)
