President Ramaphosa welcoming Kenya's President William Ruto to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on June 4. South Africa and Kenya have the economic muscle and diplomatic weight to show that Africa can build partnerships strong enough to overcome divisive geopolitical pressures, says the writer.
Kim Heller
By all accounts, President William Ruto's recent state visit to South Africa was a resounding success. The optics were good, as two major African economies officially pledged to drive joint prosperity at a time when the continent is in dire need of deeper economic integration.
South Africa, the continent's most industrialised economy, and Kenya, East Africa's commercial and logistical hub, are both countries with massive economic and political muscle. With a GDP of close to $480 billion, South Africa has substantial economic weight.
So too does Kenya, with a GDP of approximately $147 billion. Stronger cohesion and collaboration between Southern Africa and East Africa would have a positive impact on the continent as a whole, especially if truly integrated and sustainable value chains in key industries are activated.
