South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted Austrian President at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, 5 July 2025. Image: The Presidency.
(The Post News)- President Cryril Ramaphosa welcomed his counterpart, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday 5 July, in a visit aimed at reflecting on commitments through advancing African Agenda and multilateral cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Ramaphosa said Austria is a valued partner of South Africa(SA) and they look forward to taking their partnership to even greater heights. He also said both nations share a common commitment to a world free of conflict and war, where sustainable development prevails.
Van der Bellen’s visit presented an opportunity to strengthen the long-standing relationship between the two countries, in the fileds of arts and culture, higher education.
The State Visit presented an opportunity to consolidate the long-standing and strong relationship between South Africa and Austria, particularly in the fields of arts and culture, higher education, renewable energy, trade and investment, and waste management.
“A number of leading Austrian companies are involved in South Africa, through direct investments, distribution and sales offices, or in projects and other services,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said his administration has embarked on a massive infrastructure drive, with the main focus on the investments in energy, transport and logistics, water and sanitation, and digital infrastructure.
“We are on course to complete the transformation of our energy and logistics sectors to make them more efficient and competitive,” he said.
According to the Presidency, South Africa and Austria maintain mutual and cooperative bilateral relations that are rooted in respect, shared values growing economic and cultural exchanges. Regardless of geographically distant and difference in economic structures, the two nations have found common ground in international cooperation, and also sustainable development.
As stated by Austrian Embassy, Bilateral relations between Austria and SA which started in 1962 through Austrian delegation to SA that was later upgraded to a full operating embassy, can still be described as ‘very good’. It is highlighted that Austria is regarded as significant economic partner with high technological expertise, as well as source of tourists.
Furthermore, the embassy also boasted about being SA’s most important trading partner on the African continent, citing that a third of Austria’s total exports to Africa are delivered to the country on the Cape. It also revealed that In 2024 alone, Austrian imports from SA amounted to around EUR 617 million, while goods and services worth EUR 661 million were exported to South Africa.
This state visit is also expected to bolster firm foundation for mutually-beneficial cooperation, that will directly create opportunities for both nations.
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