Qatar–South Africa relations

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Qatar – South Africa relations
Map indicating locations of Qatar and South Africa

Qatar
South Africa

Qatar–South Africa relations are the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of South Africa. Formal relations began on 10 May 1994, the same day that Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President of South Africa.[1]

Diplomatic representation[edit]

Qatar opened an embassy in the suburb of Brooklyn in Pretoria in January 2003. South Africa's embassy in Doha was established in September 2002.[2]

High level visits[edit]

President Nelson Mandela made his first visit to Qatar in April 1995. The first Qatari head of state to visit South Africa was Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who did so in May 2002.[3]

Qatar was visited by South African President Jacob Zuma twice in 2012; the first visit coming in January followed by a visit in May.[4] Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made a trip to South Africa in April 2017.[5]

Diplomatic cooperation[edit]

Economic[edit]

The Qatar–South Africa Business Forum was established to facilitate trade discussions between the two countries.[6]

In 2016, South African exports to Qatar were valued at $104 million while Qatari exports to South Africa were worth $390 million.[6] Qatar's primary exports are chemicals and plastics while South Africa's chief exports are machinery, mechanical appliances and metals.[7]

South Africa has invested close to $8.9 billion in Qatar's energy sector.[6] Notably, South African chemical company Sasol has entered in a joint venture with QatarEnergy to establish Oryx GTL, a large-scale GTL plant in Ras Laffan, Qatar.[7] Furthermore, in 2003, South Africa's PetroWorld and QatarEnergy agreed to jointly develop a massive methanol project in Ras Laffan.[8]

Military[edit]

In 1991, Qatar purchased 12 G5 howitzers from South Africa.[9]

It was reported in November 2017 that South Africa was in negotiations with Qatar over the sale of a stake in South African defense company Denel.[10]

Sports[edit]

South Africa, hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has expressed its willingness to share its expertise and skills in regards to Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[11]

Migration[edit]

There are roughly 5,000 South Africans living in Qatar as of 2016.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jacqueline Audrey Kalley; Elna Schoeman; Lydia Eve Andor (1999). "Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997". Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 528.
  2. ^ "About us". Qatari Embassy in Pretoria. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Qatar-South Africa Relations". Qatari Embassy in Pretoria. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. ^ "President Zuma Arrives in Doha for State Visit". SA-People. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Zuma hosts Qatar's Emir". eNCA. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Minister sees growth in trade relations with S Africa". Gulf Times. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Qatar (State of)". International Relations & Cooperations (South Africa). Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Qatar Petroleum, PetroWorld to build world-scale methanol". ICIS News. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Qatar-South Africa defence relations improving?". DefenceWeb. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. ^ Sabelo Skiti; Thanduxolo Jika (26 November 2017). "Zuma in Denel sale talks with Qatar". Times Live. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. ^ "South Africa: Qatar Can Tap Into South Africa's Experience to Make Fifa World Cup 2022 a Memorable Event". allafrica.com. Government of South Africa (Pretoria). 3 June 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  12. ^ Sachin Kumar (11 October 2016). "SA ready to share World Cup expertise with Qatar". The Peninsula. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
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