JAKARTA, 21 NOVEMBER 2024 – ASEAN and South Africa reaffirmed their commitment to advancing their sectoral dialogue partnership at the 2nd ASEAN-South Africa Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (JSCC) Meeting held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today.
At the meeting, officials from both sides shared views on developments in ASEAN and South Africa, and reviewed cooperation between both sides. The meeting took note of the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-South Africa Sectoral Dialogue Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) 2024-2028, and shared the view that the effective implementation of the PCA would contribute to the further enhancement of cooperation between ASEAN and South Africa. The Meeting noted that South Africa, through the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela Centre in Bangkok, is currently developing projects on Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution, in collaboration with the ASEAN Network of University (AUN). South Africa is also working with In Transformative Initiative (ITI) and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR).
ASEAN encouraged South Africa to further develop tangible and mutually beneficial cooperation projects/activities, in consultation with ASEAN. To further substantiate the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, both sides also deliberated on ways to deepen the ASEAN-South Africa cooperation. ASEAN encouraged collaboration on peace and reconciliation and transnational crimes, and called on South Africa to support the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), including through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
In the economic sector, the meeting deliberated various areas of cooperation, including trade and investment; digital economy and transformation, including e-commerce; creative economy and circular economy; supply chain securities; sustainable finance; sustainable agriculture and infrastructure; minerals; renewable energy and just energy transition; halal food industry; food security; science, technology and innovation; tourism, including coastal tourism; fisheries and aquaculture; and cybersecurity. Both sides expressed commitment to fostering private sector engagement by linking the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) to explore trade and investment opportunities.
On the socio-cultural front, the meeting looked forward to developing cooperation in the areas of climate change; environment; health; disaster management; education and youth development; culture; and people-to-people exchanges. ASEAN also called on South Africa’s support for the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC) and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV, and encouraged collaboration with ASEAN centres of excellence.
The meeting took note of key highlights of Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2024, progress on the ASEAN Smart Cities Network initiative, and ASEAN’s efforts to promote sustainable development. The meeting also noted key developments in South Africa, including the outcomes of the 2024 national elections, priorities of the Government of National Unity (GNU), South Africa’s presidency of the G20 in 2025, outcomes of the 16th BRICS Summit, and South Africa’s position on the situation in the Middle East.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Nararya Soeprapto, and Ambassador of South Africa to ASEAN, Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro. Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Thandi Anna Moraka, and members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN or their representatives and their respective delegations were also in attendance. Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN attended as Observer.