Sindiswa Mququ, the Brand SA general manager; Africa and Middle East, told the African News Agency (ANA), ahead of a round table dialogue session on Friday, that South Africa and Mozambique have a lot more to benefit from with closer ties.

The 27th AU Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, earlier in July, resolved to work towards the free movement of people and goods on the continent as part of Agenda 2063, which seeks “a global strategy to optimise use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans”. 

In an exclusive interview on Thursday, Mququ said: “More has to be done for sustainable relations [with Mozambique].”

She said South Africa wants to “deepen relations” with its neighbour.

Already the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and the Agreement on One Stop Border Posts have been put into place between South Africa and Mozambique.

The creation of the Maputo Development Corridor linking the port of Maputo with South Africa’s industrial heartland was also in line with the AU Agenda 2063.

Total trade between South Africa and Mozambique was R43.9 billion in 2014, increasing from R39.5 billion in 2013.

On Friday, the South African embassy in Mozambique and Brand SA will host the round table dialogue, which will include experts in economic policy development, government practitioners and business people from both countries.

Mququ said the dialogue session was aimed at promoting exchanges between South Africa and Mozambique in various aspects of economic and business development.

“We want to talk about things we are not happy with when doing business,” said Mququ, who was well aware her Mozambican counterparts have a few gripes they too want ironed out.

She said the trade partners had more in common than differences.

“The city resonates with me,” said Mququ, who has travelled extensively on the African continent and was visiting Maputo for the first time.

Clearly impressed with the welcome she received, Mququ said: “Even when you can’t speak Portuguese they will accommodate you”.

Background

At the summit in Kigali from 10 to 18 July, the first “African passport” was issued as part of Agenda 2063, which will enable the free movement of people. It also aims to improve intra-African trade and to ease the movement of domestic goods between member states.

At the summit in Kigali African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said: “African countries should maintain this spirit of togetherness and start working together on action plans to foster economic development for the entire continent. This summit has indicated that we can achieve great things and overcome all challenges if we work in unity”.

*Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency for South Africa with a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, in order to improve South Africa’s competitiveness.

ANA