A new government is being formed in Germany following the recent elections and there are several priorities on the agenda when it comes to South Africa, writes the German ambassador to South Africa, Andreas Peschke.
Some days back, I had the honour to present my credentials as German Ambassador to South Africa.
In a way, a dream has come true for me. Ever since I did African studies at the university 30 years back, South Africa has had a special place in my heart.
Coming here, I found a substantial basis for our relationship. 600 German companies are active in South Africa. They help to create over 100,000 jobs. Our annual trade of almost 20 billion Euro per year is unequalled anywhere else in Africa. These are impressive figures.
Our countries stood side by side in solidarity to fight Covid-19. And the President's recent visit to Germany, his meeting with our Chancellor, further underlined the excellent level of our relations.
I firmly believe that our friendship can become even more profound. Global challenges like climate change, just and green energy transition, or international security require joint action. We can support each other in the area of job creation or in the fight against corruption.
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In Berlin, a new government is being formed after the elections.
Among the priorities that will be high up on its agenda are the following:
First, we want to strengthen the economic relationship between our countries by further increasing the level of trade and investment, including the level of tourism. With its outstanding natural beauty and its abounding cultural richness, South Africa is a very popular destination for German tourists. I see the number of bookings is picking up after the pandemic, and this is good news.
Second, we strive to enhance our cooperation with South Africa in education and ills development, implementing our "Joint Initiative on skills development "and supporting the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative.
Education is a key to economic success and social cohesion. Therefore, it comes naturally to seek ways of working together as partners in this field.
Germany has a rich experience with respect to vocational training, and we are happy to share it with friends.
Third, against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic that shook us all, international cooperation in the area of health commands or particular attention. We want to work closely with South Africa. Germany contributes more than two billion Euros to worldwide efforts to combat the pandemic. The largest part of these funds goes to the COVAX vaccination facility to support developing countries.
Besides that, one of our main aims is to ensure that anti-Covid vaccines can be produced in Africa. South Africa's Biovac company and Germany's Biontech, plan to cooperate, including the filling and finishing of Biontech/Pfizer vaccines in South Africa. This would be an important first step.
Fourth, we should cooperate on a just, fair, and green energy transition. We need to act against climate change, and we must do it together. Towards this end, South Africa and Germany, as part of the EU, have set themselves ambitious goals for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP26. We should cooperate and support each other to achieve them.
Affection between South Africa and Germany
Remodelling the whole energy sector of a country along green and sustainable lines is a daunting task. But it can be done. In Germany, as in South Africa, we are struggling hard to exit fossil energies and coal. But to invest in renewables lays the foundation for a whole new industry sector and can create hundreds of thousands of jobs. The opportunities for a green energy transition are immense. We should seize them.
There are many other areas important to our partnership. There is our cooperation in the United Nations, particularly during our recent joint membership in the Security Council. There is our dialogue on security on the African continent. There is our rich cultural cooperation with the Goethe Institute, our international schools and many ties between our universities.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, there is a lot of affection between our peoples.
Germans love South Africa and its warm-hearted people. This is a good base for friendship. I am thrilled to get to work. Together with our team, I will work very hard to serve the friendship between our wonderful nations. As they say, sizosebenzela ubungani pakathi kweJalimane neNingizimu Afrika. Kakhulu!
- Andreas Peschke is the German ambassador to South Africa.
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