President Ramaphosa undertakes State Visit to Brazil to strengthen bilateral ties
Date: 2026-03-10
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa is on a two-day State Visit to
Brasília, Brazil, at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The
visit aims to reinforce the strategic partnership between the two nations,
initially formalized in a 2010 declaration.
Key
objectives of the visit include enhancing diplomatic, political, and economic
relations between the two BRICS members. Priority areas of discussion cover
economic cooperation in sectors such as agribusiness, aerospace, energy,
mining, and science and technology, as well as trade and investment
opportunities to build on the R32.5 billion in bilateral trade recorded in
2025.
The
visit also focuses on collaboration within multilateral platforms, including
the G20, IBSA, and the United Nations, alongside discussions on tourism and
mobility, including a potential new bilateral air-services agreement to double
weekly flights and leveraging Brazil’s recent inclusion on South Africa’s
90-day visa-exemption list.
During
the official programme, President Ramaphosa participated in a formal welcome
ceremony at the Palácio do Planalto and held high-level talks with President
Lula on bilateral and geopolitical priorities. He also addressed the South
Africa–Brazil Business Forum at the Itamaraty Palace, promoting commercial
collaboration between the two countries.
President
Ramaphosa is accompanied by a high-level delegation of Cabinet ministers to
advance discussions across various sectors and strengthen the bilateral agenda
between South Africa and Brazil.
