South Africa has expressed its intent to forge a stronger tourism partnership with Ethiopia, leveraging Ethiopia’s recent entry into the BRICS alliance to unlock fresh opportunities for bilateral cooperation. In an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), South Africa’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nonceba Losi, highlighted her country’s commitment to deepen ties—particularly in tourism, a sector she described as ripe for joint growth under BRICS.

“Ethiopia’s entry into BRICS opens a new chapter for collaboration,” Ambassador Losi stated. “We want to ensure that BRICS nations work closely, not just on policy, but also by visiting and investing in each other’s tourism offerings.”

Losi revealed that the South African Embassy in Addis Ababa is already working on concrete proposals and programs to stimulate tourism exchange, including attracting more South African visitors to Ethiopia and vice versa. This comes as part of a broader strategy to tap into the massive market potential within BRICS—home to over 40% of the world’s population.

Beyond tourism, the Ambassador pointed to technical cooperation opportunities. She noted that South Africa’s experienced wildlife rangers could assist Ethiopia in conservation efforts, sharing expertise to better protect the country’s rich natural heritage.