The City of Tshwane continues to advance its international relations agenda through strategic diplomatic engagements aimed at fostering cooperation, investment, and sustainable development.
On 1 June 2026, Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, accompanied by the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, Alderman Aaron Maluleke, paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pretoria. The delegation was warmly received by His Excellency Dr. Huseyn Rahimli, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to South Africa.
The visit marked an important step towards strengthening relations between the City of Tshwane and the Republic of Azerbaijan, while exploring opportunities for future collaboration and partnership.
Exploring Areas of Mutual Cooperation
The discussions centred on a number of key sectors that present significant opportunities for collaboration between the City of Tshwane and Azerbaijani institutions and municipalities.
Areas identified for potential cooperation included:
- Water management and infrastructure development
- Human settlements and housing development
- Trade promotion and economic cooperation
- Investment attraction and business partnerships
- Knowledge exchange and municipal capacity building
Both parties recognised the value of international cooperation in addressing urban development challenges and creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth and social development.
Building a Foundation for Long-Term Partnership
The engagement underscored a shared commitment to establishing constructive and cordial relations between the City of Tshwane and Azerbaijan. Discussions highlighted the importance of city-to-city cooperation as a mechanism for sharing best practices, strengthening institutional partnerships, and promoting innovation in local governance.
Deputy Mayor Modise reaffirmed the City’s commitment to expanding its global partnerships as part of Tshwane’s broader vision to attract investment, stimulate economic growth, and improve service delivery for residents.
Towards a Memorandum of Understanding
A key outcome of the meeting was the mutual agreement to initiate the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the City of Tshwane and the Azerbaijani city of Qarabağ.
The proposed MoU will serve as a framework for future collaboration and cooperation across identified priority sectors. It is expected to facilitate knowledge sharing, cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and the development of mutually beneficial projects between the two cities.
Advancing Tshwane’s Global Partnerships Agenda
The City of Tshwane remains committed to building meaningful international partnerships that contribute to sustainable development, investment promotion, and economic prosperity.
This engagement with the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan represents another important milestone in the City’s efforts to strengthen its international footprint and unlock new opportunities for collaboration that will benefit residents, businesses, and communities alike.
As discussions progress towards the formalisation of an MoU, both parties expressed optimism about the potential of the partnership and the positive impact it can have on strengthening relations between South Africa and Azerbaijan at the municipal level.
