South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on October 9 unveiled a Team Europe investment package worth nearly €12-billion, at the Global Gateway Forum, in Brussels, Belgium.

Through Global Gateway, Team Europe – the EU, its member States and development finance institutions – is mobilising an €11.5-billion investment package with South Africa.

The partnership focuses on the just energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, digital connectivity and pharmaceutical value chains in South Africa.

The objective is to drive inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

This package builds on the €4.7-billion package announced at the EU-South Africa Summit in March.

The Team Europe investment package is said to already be delivering concrete results.

This includes a new commitment to the Coega green ammonia project, in Nelson Mandela Bay. Local production is expected to meet increasing global and domestic demand in the agricultural, chemical and mining sectors.

It will also support South Africa’s ambition to become a global shipping hub as green ammonia presents a new choice for clean maritime fuel.

The new commitment is also aiming to strengthen local biomanufacturing capabilities to produce vaccines and other pharmaceuticals in South Africa for the African continent.

“These investments will help to build the economy of the future in the South Africa of the present. The investment package covers areas such as critical minerals, e-battery development, green hydrogen, renewable energy and vaccines.

“This will help to accelerate South Africa’s just transition to a low-carbon economy, while ensuring that no one is left behind. The investment will also support rail, road and ports infrastructure, logistics and digital connectivity,” Ramaphosa said.

“We welcome the special focus on skills, small business development, and research and development. This is vital for the development of South Africa’s people, our most valuable resource,” he added.

Meanwhile, during the Global Gateway Forum, Von der Leyen also announced a €618-million Team Europe package to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition, part of the 'Scaling Up Renewables in Africa' campaign, co-hosted with Ramaphosa and coordinated with international advocacy organisation Global Citizen.

“South Africa is not only transforming itself, it is becoming a clean energy pioneer for the entire continent. Global Citizen has started a campaign that is scaling up renewables in Africa. Six hundred million people in Africa still have no access to electricity,” she pointed out.

“This campaign goes on for a year and will be culminating in Johannesburg at the G20,” Von der Leyen added.

She said the new package would support projects of electrification, modernising power grids and expanding access to renewable energy. Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Nigeria, Cabo Verde, Zambia, Tanzania and Togo are set to benefit from the funding.