Austria and Saudi Arabia Sign Two Memoranda of Understanding During President Alexander Van Der Bellen’s Visit

Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa extended a warm welcome to President Alexander van der Bellen of Austria during his visit to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

South Africa and Austria enjoy amicable and cooperative bilateral relations, rooted in mutual respect and shared values concerning multilateralism, alongside a growth in economic and cultural interactions.

The State Visit on Friday, 4 July 2025, provided a platform to further solidify the strong and enduring relationship between the two nations, particularly in the fields of arts and culture, higher education, renewable energy, trade and investment, and waste management.

Last year, South Africa exported goods worth €617 million to Austria, while imports reached €661 million.

Despite the geographical distance and marked differences in size and economic structure, both countries have found common ground in areas such as international cooperation, trade, and sustainable development.

In the afternoon, President Ramaphosa and President Van der Bellen engaged in a plenary session at the Business Forum.

“Austria is a valued partner to South Africa,” President Ramaphosa shared with reporters after the session.

“This state visit will further bolster our enduring cooperation and strengthen the ties between our nations.”

“Our conversations today made it clear that this aspiration is shared by both Austria and South Africa.”

President Ramaphosa highlighted that South Africa and Austria signed two Memoranda of Understanding.

“The first focuses on cooperation in consular affairs, while the second emphasizes technical vocational education and work-based training, supporting South Africa’s efforts to develop the necessary skills for our economy.”

South Africa stands as Austria’s largest trading partner in Africa, facilitating nearly a third of Austria’s total exports to the continent.

Over a quarter of all African imports to Austria are sourced from South Africa.

President Ramaphosa noted that more than 70 Austrian companies have established subsidiaries and agencies in South Africa.

He also discussed the effects of geopolitical events with his Austrian counterpart.

“We reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism in our shared quest for a world devoid of conflict and war,” President Ramaphosa stated.

“We both hold the belief that global governance institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, require reform to effectively address current challenges and realities.”

“We took the opportunity to reflect on the theme chosen for South Africa’s G20 Presidency, which is ‘Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.’”

This theme envisions a world where every individual, community, and country has equitable opportunities for growth and prosperity.

President Van der Bellen remarked: “Our nations share strong and friendly relations.”

The Austrian delegation included distinguished representatives from business, science, art, and media.

“Our objective is clear: we seek to enhance Austria’s presence in South Africa,” President Van der Bellen added.

He disclosed that 75 Austrian subsidiaries are currently operating in South Africa, creating 7,000 jobs thus far.