Bilateral relations between Morocco and South Africa

• The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, M Nasser Bourita received, on January 09, 2018, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, former South African Minister for International Relations. The latter emphasized that Morocco and South Africa should continue to engage in constructive discussions to turn challenges into opportunities, building on their experiences in managing the migration problem and engaging in the sustainable development of the Continent.
• In October 2018, the speaker of South Africa parliament Baleka Mbete travelled to Rabat and met with her Moroccan counterparts.

III - Economic relations

• The trade statistics already show significant increase of economic convergences. Those economic links create important opportunities for both parties, especially since Morocco and South Africa are the largest African investors in Africa. South African export to morocco in 2017 totaled R1,1 Billion. Imports were R745,5 million.
• South Africa is morocco’s first economical partner in Southern Africa.
• Huge investment opportunities exist between the two countries. In 2018 South Africa’s largest insurer, Sanlam, concluded its acquisition of Morocco’s insurance provider Saham Finances in a deal worth$ 1.74 Billion. This big investment, which increase SANLAM’s footprint to 33 African countries, could potentially encourage other South African companies to consider Morocco as an investment opportunity

Apart from this huge investment, the following South African companies have also ventured into the Moroccan market:

• Mara Holding (formally Delta Property Holdin) bought the Anfa shopping center in Casablanca in 2015 (deal about $ 100 million)
• EOH
• Tana

• A Joint Commission of Cooperation is established by the agreement signed in February 1996: the first session of the Joint Commission was held in Cape Town 12 May 1998.

Legal framework:

- Signed agreements:

• Bilateral Air Transport Agreement signed on 18 February 1994 in Rabat and entered into force on 31 July 1996.
• Memorandum of Understanding on Air Transport Cooperation, signed on 20 July 1994 in Cape Town.
• Agreement on Agricultural Research between INRA and the South African Agricultural Research Council, signed in Pretoria on 30 August 1994.
• Agreement establishing the Mixed Commission for Cooperation, signed on February 8, 1996, in Rabat.
• Cooperation agreement between CGEM and South African employers "SACOB", signed in Johannesburg on 1 September 1995.
• Cooperation agreement between the Casablanca Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, signed in Casablanca on September 24, 1995.
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, signed in Cape Town on May 12, 1998.
• Cooperation agreement on the production of electrical energy, signed in May 2002 between ONE and ESKOM.
• Cooperation and partnership agreement signed, on April 11, 2016 in Rabat, between the Kingdom of Morocco Academy and the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MIND).

- Initialed agreements:

• Draft Agreement in the field of Merchant Shipping and Maritime Affairs.
• Draft Trade Agreement.
• Draft Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion with respect to income tax.
• Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial and Technological Cooperation.
• Draft memorandum of understanding on phytosanitary issues.
• Draft scientific and technological cooperation agreement.

- Draft agreements that are under negotiation:

• Draft Agreement in the field of Arts and Culture.
• Draft agreement in the field of Tourism.
• Draft agreement on the promotion and protection of investments.
• Draft Cooperation Agreement in the field of Energy and Mines;
• Draft Cooperation Agreement between MAP and SAPA;
• Draft Memorandum of Understanding between the National Center for Energy, Nuclear Science and Technology and the Atomic Energy Cooperation of SA LTD.