Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa and Kenya's commitment to deepening economic cooperation, advancing regional integration, and strengthening Africa's collective voice on the global stage. Delivering opening remarks during the State Visit of Kenyan President William Ruto at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, President Ramaphosa described the visit as a celebration of the enduring friendship between the two countries and a reflection of their shared vision for Africa's future.
According to South African Government News Agency, earlier in the day, President Ruto was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings, where he inspected a guard of honour before holding a tªte- -tªte meeting with President Ramaphosa. President Ramaphosa expressed profound honour and joy in welcoming President Ruto and the Kenyan delegation to South Africa, highlighting the visit as a celebration of friendship and solidarity between the two nations.
The visit builds on the strong foundation laid during President Ramaphosa's State Visit to Kenya in November 2022 and ongoing engagements through the Joint Commission for Cooperation. As two of Africa's leading economies, South Africa and Kenya have a responsibility to drive the continent's development agenda. Their partnership carries significance not only for their citizens but for the broader African project of integration, industrialisation, and inclusive growth.
President Ramaphosa welcomed the outcomes of the 7th Session of the South Africa-Kenya Joint Trade Committee, held in Pretoria in April, which reinforced both countries' commitment to building a balanced and mutually beneficial trading relationship under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted progress in addressing trade imbalances, removing barriers, and strengthening regional value chains.
Cooperation between the two countries is expanding into strategic sectors including green energy, climate-smart industrialisation, digital trade, artificial intelligence, e-mobility, maritime cooperation, and skills development. Such cooperation aims to create opportunities to transform lives, empower young people, and build resilient economies. Six Memoranda of Understanding were signed during the visit, covering agriculture, tourism, information and communications technology, energy, transport, and maritime cooperation.
President Ramaphosa also welcomed a proposal to establish a South Africa-Kenya Joint Business Council, which would provide a stronger platform for private sector participation in shaping trade and investment opportunities. He highlighted growing people-to-people ties, particularly following the introduction of visa-free travel for citizens of both nations for visits of up to 90 days, which has already yielded positive results in tourism, business travel, and cultural exchanges.
The growing trade relationship between South Africa and Kenya demonstrates the practical benefits of continental integration. The launch of consignments traded under the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative marked a significant milestone, showing that the AfCFTA is a living instrument transforming intra-African trade. Opportunities remain abundant in infrastructure development, automotive manufacturing, agro-processing, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and digital innovation.
President Ramaphosa also welcomed increasing cooperation between Kenya Airways and South African Airways, enhancing connectivity and supporting tourism and business exchanges. Beyond economic cooperation, South Africa and Kenya remain united in promoting peace, diplomacy, and multilateralism amid growing global instability.