South African President Jacob Zuma signed on Thursday an oil agreement with his Angolan counterpart during a visit aimed at strengthening economic ties with the oil-rich country.
The deal will allow South Africa’s Petro SA and Angola’s Sonangol to cooperate in oil projects, said Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos.
”Energy security is one of the most important aspects for peace and stability,” Dos Santos told journalists.
Managers for both companies will soon meet to discuss all possible forms of cooperation, he said.
The state-owned oil companies will work together in the areas of exploration, refining and distribution of oil, said Dos Santos.
A raft of bilateral agreements were also signed in the areas of communication, trade and transport.
Zuma is accompanied by 11 ministers and more than 100 business leaders, in the largest business delegation to accompany a state visit since the end of the apartheid 15 years ago.
”These relations will strategically change the economic landscape of Southern Africa, there is no doubt about it,” Zuma said.
Both leaders highlighted the importance of strengthening business relations between Angola and South Africa, the continent’s largest economy.
”This indeed is one of the historic visits and indeed out of this visit we believe that the people of Angola and South Africa will benefit greatly,” Zuma said after signing the agreements.
With Angola now leading Nigeria as Africa’s largest producer of crude oil and with its enormous hydro-electricity potential, energy was a key area of discussion.
Much of Angola’s infrastructure was destroyed during its 27-year civil war, which only ended in 2002, and the country is undergoing a major reconstruction including roads, schools, hospitals and houses.
Portuguese, Brazilian and Chinese firms are already key players in Angola’s reconstruction, and Zuma is expected to use his visit to broker deals for South African firms seeking their slice of the pie.
Dos Santos’s ruling MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) has long been a supporter of Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC) party, with ties dating back to respective anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggles.
Apartheid South Africa supported the rebel-turned-opposition party Unita (Total Union for the Independence of Angola). Despite the democratic transition in South Africa, ties cooled significantly during Thabo Mbeki’s presidency.
Dos Santos appears to enjoy a good personal relationship with Zuma.
He attended Zuma’s inauguration in May, and Zuma visited Angola in March last year as leader of the ANC, in what was seen as a snub to Mbeki.
South Africa is touting the trip as part of its efforts to strengthen its relationships within Southern Africa, while the choice of Angola highlights the country’s growing importance in the region.
Zuma arrived in Luanda on Wednesday evening, and early on Thursday laid wreaths to commemorate Angola’s first president Agostinho Neto and soldiers who died in the liberation struggle against the Portuguese.
After an address to the National Assembly, Zuma attended a lunch at Luanda’s pink presidential palace before meeting Angolan Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma.
The two leaders then addressed a business symposium, which is running alongside the ministerial meetings, giving South African companies the chance to explore investment opportunities in the country. — Sapa-AFP