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Zuma’s visit cements co-operation with BrazilPresident Jacob Zuma and his regular entourage during state visits abroad can be excused if they unwittingly begin to discuss the affairs of state in Portuguese. A couple of weeks ago, his first official visit took him to Portuguese speaking Angola and now he has just returned from a whirlwind two day official state visit to Portuguese speaking Brazil. Both visits, however, have been inspired by solid practical considerations of national interest.
It is perhaps due to the fate of history that both Angola and Brazil are ex-Portuguese colonies, but it is not a coincidence that both are emerging powers in their respective geographical regions.
There are obviously a variety of reasons why President Zuma selected Angola and Brazil for some of his first ports of call early in his presidential term. The increasing importance of both countries clearly pushed them high on the list.
Angola possesses the potential to become a major force in southern Africa, which makes it a logical and strategic step for President Zuma to normalise relations with an ally, but also a potential economic rival.
Brazil in turn has already established itself as the dominant country in Latin America. That in itself makes it a worthwhile destination. The fact that Brazil has taken the initiative to revive and develop the south-south economic model to which South Africa feels itself committed, makes the strengthening of bilateral relations imperative.
Brazil has the added advantage that it is historically, culturally and economically close to South Africa’s neighbour Angola, which might in future turn out to be rather beneficial.
In 1998, Nelson Mandela visited Brazil during his presidential term. Zuma’s visit of 9-10 October was officially described as intended to consolidate the co-operation that has evolved between the two countries over the past 10 years, but has unfortunately faded over the last few years.
The purpose of the visit was therefore the strengthening and development of trade and economic relations, with the main item on Zuma’s itinerary, besides meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his keynote speech at a Business Forum in São Paulo organised to facilitate interaction between South African and Brazilian business. The Business Forum was also attended by a 50-strong delegation of business representatives from South Africa.
During the South African president’s visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and the South African Department of Trade and Industry for the promotion of trade and investment. This MoU will see the development of an implementation plan that will focus on how trade and investment initiatives will be structured to benefit both countries.
An agreement and a MoU on sports co-operation for 2009-2011 were also signed. This will be advantageous to Brazil who can tap into South Africa’s experience of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. In 2014, it is Brazil’s turn to host the Fifa World Cup and in 2016, Rio de Janeiro hosts the Summer Olympics. President Da Silva was also invited to visit South Africa shortly before or after the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
It was also agreed that South Africa would host the fifth meeting of the Joint Binational Commission set up earlier by the two countries as a vehicle for servicing bilateral relations, but which has lately fell in disuse.
In his address at the Business Forum, Zuma explained two significant policy statements that gave insight into South Africa’s vision vis-à-vis its revitalised relationship with Brazil, but which the media mostly overlooked or failed to report.
President Zuma elaborated on the fact that South Africa is among the biggest investors in sub-Saharan Africa and that the country is the economic hub of the region. Brazil is likewise the driving economic force for the South American continent. This position that both countries enjoy in their respective spheres of influence presents opportunities and responsibilities and makes the relationship between South Africa and Brazil important not only for the advancement of their own national interests, but also for the broader development of the respective regions. According to the view of President Zuma, this relationship can only further stimulate dynamic engagement between South America and Africa.
Turning to the global economic crisis, President Zuma remarked that the developed world has lost its monopoly on the world economy and proofed its economic practices to be unsustainable. In their response to the crisis, the countries of the developed world departed dramatically from the policies they had long prescribed to the developing world. Faced with the collapse of their economies, these countries suddenly became inward looking, using public funds to bail out failing industries and reviving protectionist tendencies.
In President Zuma and the South African government’s view, it is clear that the developed world can no longer claim to have a monopoly on economic wisdom and it is clear that the global economy should be restructured.
In a new global economic order, the countries of the South should assert their collective interests. In South Africa’s opinion, the development of south-south economic relations should be at the core of this realignment of economic forces groupings like IBSA, which brings together India, Brazil and South Africa, should serve as an anchor for building these relations.
Under President Da Silva, Brazil has become the driving force in revamping the south-south partnership deal and both countries should be saluted if what President Zuma highlighted in his address is their shared view.
During his visit, President Zuma also addressed the Brazilian Senate and met the Senate Speaker. He also met the Governor of São Paulo and visited the Supreme Court and met with the Chief Justice. Last on his programme after meeting with some Brazilian soccer officials he addressed the African ambassadors to Brazil.
