South Africa and Netherlands Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation in Various Sectors

Pretoria, October 18, 2023 – The Third Meeting of the South Africa-Netherlands Joint Commission for Cooperation took place on October 18, 2023, in Pretoria, South Africa. The meeting was hosted by Dr. Naledi Pandor, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, and led by Ms. Hanke Bruins Slot, the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the work of various working groups, encompassing a wide range of sectors, including Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Environment and Climate Change, Energy, Digital Technologies, Finance, Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Migration, Social Development, Trade and Investment, and Water Management.

The Ministers particularly emphasized the productive collaboration in the field of Agriculture, with discussions covering issues such as e-certification of animal products, cool logistics, the just energy transition, climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity, land reform, and trade-related phytosanitary and veterinary concerns.

In the realm of Arts and Culture, South Africa and the Netherlands reaffirmed their strong cooperation in areas like Language, Underwater Heritage, Built Environment, Museums, Archives, and Audio-Visual Production.

Both nations pledged to continue their collaboration on environmental and climate matters, focusing on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and joint solutions to shared challenges, with a commitment to supporting the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

The Ministers welcomed the heightened exchanges on Green Hydrogen and the signing of a dedicated Government-to-Government Memorandum of Agreement on Green Hydrogen. Furthermore, the Netherlands Government’s decision to become a member of the International Partners’ Group of the Just Energy Transition Partnership was also commended.

In the digital sphere, discussions centered on cybersecurity and the ongoing efforts to establish a Joint Declaration of Intent on enhancing collaboration in the fields of Cyberspace and Digital Technologies.

South Africa and the Netherlands celebrated their longstanding history of higher education cooperation. They highlighted recent developments, such as the “Knowledge Mission” by the Netherlands Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of Higher Education, Technical, and Vocational Education.

In Science and Innovation, the Ministers acknowledged the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2022, which facilitates ongoing collaboration in areas such as astronomy, energy, agriculture, health, and water.

Both Ministers expressed support for ongoing consultations to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation in Migration matters. They also advocated for the negotiation of a Protocol to amend the Agreement on Social Security and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Social Development in 2024.

To bolster bilateral trade and investment, the Ministers agreed to increase efforts, including organizing trade and investment missions, holding frequent dialogues, and enhancing private sector cooperation.

In the field of Water Management, the Ministers focused on the Memorandum of Understanding signed on the margins of the United Nations Water Conference in March 2023, reaffirming their partnership in the management of water resources and the implementation of various programs.

The Ministers also addressed peace and security developments in Africa, focusing on Mozambique, the Sahel, East Africa, and international conflicts such as Russia/Ukraine and Israeli/Palestine. They reiterated their commitment to the international rules-based order enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Multilateral Cooperation was also a key topic, with discussions on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, collaboration within the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and their support for the full implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Finally, both Ministers agreed on the need for the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda to be implemented globally, emphasizing the important role of women in conflict prevention and peacekeeping operations. Minister Pandor briefed Minister Bruins Slot on the outcome of the Fifteenth BRICS Summit, held in Johannesburg in August 2023.

In closing, it was confirmed that the Fourth Meeting of the South Africa – Netherlands Joint Commission for Cooperation will be held in the Netherlands before the end of 2025, further solidifying the strong and cooperative relationship between the two nations.