"I think this could be of tremendous importance in the context of the SADC [Southern African Development Community] countries in Southern Africa", highlighted the academic from the University of Noroeste about the official visit of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, to South Africa South, Thursday.
Croucamp recalled that, "in the recent visit of the Nigerian leadership [to South Africa], it was pointed out that African countries do not trade enough with each other and that [they should] somehow otherwise reach an agreement with regard to tariffs and to trade and the prospect of increased trade between African countries".
"In the context of South Africa there is a lot to talk about in terms of tourism, in terms of agriculture, in terms of oil, minerals, all the areas of interest that we share," said the South African analyst.
João Lourenço visits the South African capital, Pretoria, at the invitation of his counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, to "solidify relations between the two countries", announced the Presidency of the South African Republic.
After the meeting at the Presidential Palace, the two heads of state will open a Business Forum, on the afternoon of João Lourenço's state visit to the South African capital.
"The forum will be on the theme of South Africa and Angola: Working Together to Forge a New Era of Cooperation and Partnerships to Increase Mutually Beneficial Trade and Investment", highlighted the South African Presidency without giving details.
In Piet Croucamp's view, this business forum "should specifically target trade, because there is a lot to talk about on this specific day", adding that greater mobility between countries in the Southern region of the continent, and the two countries in particular, would benefit "a larger economy in Southern Africa".
"I believe that these are very important topics and that they will certainly draw the attention of the leadership of Angola and South Africa", he added, highlighting that "the important thing is that the Southern African Development Community will be discussed; its viability as a project, as commercial zone, and also in terms of political stability", he concluded.
South Africa and Angola signed several cooperation agreements, including the Agreement on the creation of the Bilateral Commission, signed on November 20, 2000, in Luanda.
