South Africa and Austria on Friday signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs), which President Cyril Ramaphosa said will support South Africa’s efforts to produce the skills the country’s economy needs.

Ramaphosa hosted Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, on his first State Visit, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he welcomed Austria’s ongoing commitment to South Africa’s development and to efforts to drive inclusive growth and job creation.

The two countries signed the MoU on cooperation in consular affairs and the MoU on work-based technical and vocational education and training.

Ramaphosa noted Austria’s high levels of excellence in work-based training, saying South Africa would like to learn how the country is able to produce needed skills.

He acknowledged the presence of more than 70 Austrian companies with subsidiaries and agencies in South Africa.

Van der Bellen noted the world leader in the development and production of innovative plastic packaging solutions ALPLA, which he said was one of the single biggest investments of an Austrian company in the whole of Africa.

He said the company had the first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in South Africa, highlighting that projects such as this not only created direct jobs but in the sphere of vocational training, they were important.

He said ALPLA also trained young apprentices, saying this would be the skilled force for the next generation that would create the transition.

He said this was an example of economic interest paired with ecological interest.

Van der Bellen pointed out that the Austria-South Africa partnership based in creating and shaping a good future. He described the political relations of both countries as excellent.

Ramaphosa explained that he and Van der Bellen also had an opportunity to discuss the theme South Africa have chosen for the G20 Presidency, namely ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.

Ramaphosa pointed out that from the discussions with Van der Bellen, he found a great resonance with what Austria stood for.

“It envisages a world order in which every person, every community and every country has equal opportunity to progress and to thrive. From our discussions today, this is an aspiration that Austria and South Africa share,” he said.

He said Austria was a valued partner of South Africa, noting that this State Visit would further deepen the countries’ longstanding cooperation and strengthen ties.

The two Presidents will later on Friday participate in a high-level business forum that will explore the numerous avenues for deepening bilateral investment and trade.