H.E. Mandla Langa, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa, met yesterday, 24th September, with the Minister of Trade.

According to the Ministry of Trade, this meeting, which marked the end of Mandla Langa‘s two-year diplomatic presence in Cameroon, enabled the two personalities to take stock of bilateral trade relations and explore new avenues of cooperation.

It was an opportunity for both parties to review the existing trade agreements between the two countries. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to reactivate the Joint Committee, the body responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Cameroon-South Africa Trade Agreement, which last met in 2018. The Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted the meeting schedule, and the High Commissioner undertook to personally advocate for the resumption of the work of this important body.

In terms of trade cooperation, South Africa was Cameroon’s second largest trading partner on the continent in 2023. The southern african country exported a total of 143.8 tonnes of goods worth CFAF 47.9 billion to Cameroon. This figure represents a market share for South Africa of 1.6% of Cameroon’s imports that year.

In addition, Cameroon’s exports to South Africa have increased to FCFA 46 billion in 2023, compared to FCFA 44.5 billion in 2022, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

At yesterday’s meeting, the Minister of Trade praised the excellence and diversity of the relations between Yaounde and Pretoria, mentioning the remarkable presence of South African companies in Cameroon, such as MTN in the telecommunications sector.