Mpumalanga seals five-year trade deal in China
The Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Longnan Municipality in China. This is according to a statement released by the Mpumalanga Office of the Premier on Wednesday, June 18.
Ndlovu is leading a delegation comprising the MEC for agriculture, Nompumelelo Hlophe; the director general, Maggie Skhosana; the head of the Department of Agriculture, Cain Chunda; and other senior officials from the Departments of Agriculture and Treasury.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga premier jets to China for a trade mission
The MoU focuses on industrial collaboration, agricultural co-operation, infrastructure development, cultural and tourism promotion, as well as talent identification and development exchanges, among other areas. This partnership aligns with the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Co-operation Summit.
Among the agreements is bilateral trade and market access, which seeks to expand and diversify trade between the two countries – including the facilitation of market access for South African agricultural products into China.
'As Mpumalanga we are responding to the vision of our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, when he signed this agreement. Through the MoU we entered into, we are defining a series of action plans and interventions to bring to life the accelerated access of trade to and from Mpumalanga and Longnan Municipality.
'This will be realised through the operationalisation of the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market which will benefit, among others, farmers from previously disadvantaged communities and our people,' said Ndlovu.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market misses deadline
The visit will further focus on other economic activities aimed at improving the provincial economy and reducing the unemployment rate.
Longnan Municipality's executive vice mayor, Li Rong, said that with the MoU signed, it is hoped this will not only be a beginning, but an expectation to set a new example for the in-depth and solid development of bilateral co-operation.
'Longnan will henceforth be your home in China. The relationship between China and South Africa is not just a win-win situation, but one of complementary advantages to create shared value together. It is hoped that this will be the beginning of a 'family + partner' relationship between the two sides,' said Rong.
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