Premier renews MoU between Western Cape and French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

On Monday, 10 March 2025, Premier Alan Winde signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Western Cape Government and the Regional Council of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, further extending the two region’s long-standing partnership.

“In times of geopolitical uncertainty, further solidifying international partnerships such as the one we concluded with the Regional Council of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, provides much-needed stability. The Western Cape embodies this stability and remains committed to deepening relations with nations and regions who share our priorities,” stated Premier Winde during the signing ceremony.

Patrick Molinoz, Vice-President of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, responsible for Digital Transition, Innovation, European Policies, International Affairs and Exports added, “Partnerships of this kind are of utmost importance for our citizens, not only because they are key to better understanding what we share as human beings, but also because they concretely help to develop employment opportunities and stimulate businesses and economic growth, both here in the Western Cape and in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.”

The provincial government and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France have enjoyed a solid and mutually beneficial relationship since 2002.

This latest MoU will extend successful cooperation beyond agriculture, into – among other priority areas - strengthening economic development, addressing climate change, and improving both regions' public health and innovation capabilities for another five years.

The Premier stressed that the MoU’s priority areas must be implemented with urgency, with particular emphasis on developing the economies of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and the Western Cape to create more jobs.

A vital area of cooperation is taking steps to mitigate the impact of the climate change crisis. Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said, “In these days of complicated international diplomacy, one must treasure established relationships. It is of great strategic value to see how the twinning arrangement between our regions has grown from being agricultural-focused, to now including a wide range of issues of mutual interest. Two of these issues, water resilience and climate change, are key priorities of our government, and we will explore these areas of cooperation through implementing tangible projects to enable us to better manage these critical issues.”

Premier Winde concluded, “We deeply value this partnership, which we see as part of our broader relationship with France – a country that shares our vision for a strong, international united front where we can build on our economic ties with the needs of our residents at the centre of this agreement.”