Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) were signed by Singapore and South Africa to work together in areas including skills development and information and communications technology (ICT). According to the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MOU on ICT would advance collaboration in that area, including the sharing of best practises and advancing cooperation in existing and new or developing elements.
According to the government, the MOU on skills development will strengthen Singapore's partnership with South Africa in the development of skills, encompassing fields like governance and education.The MOUs were signed in Cape Town with the presence of both Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
At a press conference in Tuynhuys, South Africa's presidential office, Mr. Lee stated that the agreements serve as a reminder of Singapore's close economic links with South Africa.
"Our bilateral trade has grown by over 60 per cent since 2018. We have accumulated around 13.5 billion South African rand of investments in South Africa, which is nearly a billion Singapore dollars," he added.
In a wide range of sectors, from agribusiness and urban solutions to hotel and manufacturing, Mr. Lee said that many Singaporean companies have operations in South Africa.There is room for more economic growth and cooperation because South Africa is Singapore's most "broad-based" partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
17 Singapore companies made up the business delegation that travelled to South Africa with Mr. Lee and government representatives. Mr. Ramaphosa and other South African business leaders were invited to a roundtable discussion about potential in the country.
Aside from business links, the "very important" people-to-people ties can be expanded even further, Mr Lee said.
More than 1,000 South African officials have taken part in capacity-building programmes under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), and Singapore Airlines offers direct flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town.