Republic of South Africa and People’s Republic of Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation across political, economic and cultural fields, following the Sixth Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) / Foreign Office Consultations held in Pretoria on 21 May 2026.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador D.E. Malcomson, Acting Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Middle East at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Officials from both sides described the gathering as a significant step in revitalising diplomatic engagement after a six-year pause, largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries also marked 32 years of formal diplomatic relations, underscoring longstanding ties rooted in solidarity and cooperation.
Both delegations agreed to intensify high-level exchanges and encourage reciprocal visits, while also exploring the establishment of a resident South African mission in Dhaka—an issue Pretoria said it would consider in the near future.
Economic relations featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides noting growing trade flows and the potential for expanded cooperation to support job creation and sustainable growth. Bangladesh invited South African business leaders to undertake an exploratory trade mission to Dhaka to identify new investment opportunities.
The two countries also agreed to broaden collaboration in sports, particularly cricket, alongside expanded people-to-people exchanges in arts and culture. Bangladesh welcomed scholarship opportunities offered to young cricketers, while also requesting increased scholarships for its students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in South Africa.
Further areas of cooperation highlighted during the meeting included agriculture, defence, transport and education. Both sides agreed to periodically review progress in these priority sectors.
On multilateral issues, the delegations emphasised closer coordination in international forums and reiterated the importance of advancing the interests of the Global South. As members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, both countries also highlighted the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and the development of the blue economy.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to accelerate the implementation of agreed outcomes and fast-track pending agreements and memoranda of understanding currently under consideration. It was also agreed that the Seventh SOM / FOC will be held in Dhaka in 2027, with dates to be finalised through diplomatic channels.
