With countries across the world resuming their business operations to pre-pandemic levels, South Africa-UAE bilateral trade is bouncing back to growth and development. According to a top South African diplomat, 2021 trade figures between the UAE and South Africa are set to exceed 2020’s numbers with a rise in business between the two countries.

Speaking with WAM news agency, Saa'd Cachalia, the South African Ambassador to the UAE, stated that trade between the two countries has grown tremendously in recent months despite COVID-19. UAE and South Africa have already covered around 84.15 percent of the total volumes during 2020 in the first three quarters of 2021 (January to September).

"We look forward to exceeding the 2020 trade figures significantly by the end of 2021," he added.

He further underlined that bilateral trade in 2020 stood at ZAR45.62 billion (AED10.91 billion), while the first three quarters of 2021 have already recorded trade volumes worth ZAR38.39 billion (AED9.97 billion). Therefore, the two countries have already 84.15 percent of last year's trade figures.

Cachalia also highlighted the pre-pandemic upward trajectory between 2017-2019. In 2017, bilateral trade was recorded at ZAR39.55 billion (AED9.45 billion), while it grew by 12.69 percent to ZAR44.57 billion (AED10.67 billion) in 2018. There was a 23.36 percent jump in 2019 to a total of ZAR54.98 billion (AED13.17 billion) in trade volumes.

In the aftermath of COVID-19, trade dropped to ZAR45.62 billion (AED10.94 billion) in 2020. The first three quarters of 2021 showed positive and promising results, thereby proving the resilience of the South Africa-UAE economic relations, the envoy added.

As part of their exports and imports, the two countries deal in precious metals, iron, steel and mineral products, chemicals, machinery, aircraft and vessels, prepared food materials, live animals, plastic, rubber and textiles. In addition, oil is a major product for import for South Africa from the UAE.

The Ambassador hailed the bilateral relations between the two countries, noting that the ties have been consistently growing.

"We support one another on many issues. We collaborate on different matters in the international arena, including the issues around climate change," he added.

At the same time, the Expo 2020 Dubai opened more opportunities to further strengthen the robust bilateral relations and trade ties between the UAE and South Africa. The envoy stated that the Expo 2020 Dubai brought several nations together in the UAE to provide an ideal opportunity for meeting people from different parts of the world after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is an ideal opportunity for us to start reconnecting with not only the UAE but the entire world," he said.

In conclusion, Cachalia lauded the people-to-people relations as over 100,000 South Africans are currently living in the UAE. "They are involved in almost all sectors in the UAE, such as services, finance, engineering, manufacturing and many more," he noted.

WAM