The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held a phone conversation with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa Naledi Pandor.

The conversation became the first contact between the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and South Africa since 1998.

The ministers agreed to resume a full-fledged bilateral dialogue, hold political consultations between the foreign ministries, and develop trade, scientific and technical cooperation.

The parties discussed the expansion of the legal framework of relations and cooperation within international organizations.

Dmytro Kuleba suggested that the South African side send a trade mission to Ukraine to study the possibilities of developing mutually beneficial cooperation.

"By resuming dialogue with South Africa after a break of 23 years, we are creating additional opportunities for our companies, in particular in the fields of agriculture and food security, energy, shipbuilding, tourism," he said.

The Minister reminded that the Strategy of Ukraine's Foreign Policy pays special attention to the development of relations with the countries of the African continent.

The foreign ministers agreed on further close cooperation. Naledi Pandor accepted Dmytro Kuleba's invitation to visit Ukraine next year.

Background

According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the total volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and South Africa in 2020 amounted to USD 122.7 million. In the first half of 2021, it amounted to USD 65 million.