President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for global investments under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative to be structured in a way that empowers African countries and supports their own development priorities, rather than creating new forms of dependency.
The President was delivering a statement at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on Thursday, hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
He said the forum presented an opportunity to advance cooperation between Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe in pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth.
The President emphasised that as a continent, Africa is striving for universal access to energy through diversification, equitable financing and technology transfer.
“The support from the EU and its member states will play an important part in this journey. It is important that the substantial investments that are being made through the Global Gateway are structured in a manner that empowers African countries and does not replace one dependency with another.
“They must enable African countries to pursue development paths that are suited to their circumstances and to the needs of their people,” President Ramaphosa said.
The Global Gateway Forum brings together leaders from around the world to discuss clean, secure, and sustainable investment in infrastructure and connectivity across regions.
Partnership anchored in shared priorities
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the strategic partnership with the European Union, which he said had “evolved in scope and substance over the years.”
He noted that the South Africa-EU Summit held in Cape Town, earlier this year, had deepened cooperation and reaffirmed shared values in areas such as climate resilience, digital connectivity, transport infrastructure, vaccine production, and trade.
“Together, we have an opportunity to strengthen resilience by advancing investments in digital and green infrastructure, fostering innovation, securing supply chains and encouraging diversification that supports sustainable and inclusive growth,” he said.
Driving Africa’s industrialisation and energy transition
President Ramaphosa emphasised that Africa must be an equal partner in trade and industrialisation, calling for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers that constrain African exports to the EU.
He said investment and trade should serve as instruments to foster industrialisation on the continent and to support Africa’s vision for energy security and diversification.
“South Africa has embarked on a just transition that advances renewable energy, while safeguarding energy security, and enabling social and economic development.
“We are using our natural resource endowments – such as solar, wind and our critical minerals – to build industries that will grow our economies,” he said.
The President highlighted that South Africa is implementing far-reaching economic reforms in energy, water, logistics, and telecommunications to improve competitiveness and attract investment, alongside a massive infrastructure investment drive to expand the capacity of the economy.
Preparing to host the first G20 Summit on African soil
President Ramaphosa also used the Brussels forum to reaffirm South Africa’s readiness to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit next month, under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”
He said over 100 preparatory meetings have already taken place since South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from Brazil.
A key priority for the Summit, he said, will be to address the unsustainable debt burdens faced by developing economies, particularly in Africa.
“It is simply unacceptable that many developing economy countries pay much more for their debt than what more developed economy countries pay. This unfair treatment perpetuates inequality not only between individuals, but amongst countries as well,” the President said.
He announced that South Africa has established a G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, to present recommendations on global inequality at the Summit.
Call for reform and fair climate financing
President Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s stance on the reform of international financial institutions to ensure that multilateral development banks can better tackle global challenges.
He urged stronger action against predatory mining practices and for fair management of critical minerals, while calling for greater climate financing support to developing economies in the Global South.
“We must build consensus on the reform of international financial institutions to better tackle global challenges. Greater support needs to be given to developing countries through climate financing and reconstruction in the aftermath of extreme weather events,” the President said.
Concluding his address, President Ramaphosa said South Africa remains committed to working closely with the European Union to ensure that shared ambitions translate into tangible outcomes that benefit citizens across continents.
“Together, we can foster inclusive growth, build resilience and create a sustainable and secure future for all our people,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
