South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is hosting Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima on an official state visit to South Africa from October 18 to 20, 2023.
This is the second royal visit from the Netherlands to South Africa since Queen Beatrix’s visit in 1996 at the invitation of President Nelson Mandela.
WATCH: Official talks during the State Visit by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
The welcome ceremony takes place on October 19, 2023, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
President Ramaphosa and King Willem-Alexander are expected to engage in official talks, joined by delegations that include prominent ministers and a substantial business component.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education is expected to be signed during the visit.
This visit carries significant economic implications as the Netherlands is a major investor in South Africa’s economy and a vital trading partner, with trade doubling from 2019 to 2022, reaching R122 billion.
Furthermore, the Netherlands ranks as the fourth most significant source of overseas tourists to South Africa, though the numbers experienced fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic, rebounding to 90,289 in 2022.
This royal visit underscores the deep-rooted bilateral relationship and is expected to enhance cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations.
