Relations between Norway and South Africa are extremely good and quite advanced. Due to Norway’s unwavering support and strong solidarity during the struggle towards democracy, a special and unique relationship exists between the two countries.

The first anti-apartheid activities in Norway date back to 1959 with consumer boycott activities organized by the trade unions. The South Africa Committee also started to operate in 1959.

Awareness about apartheid received a big stimulus in 1961 when Chief Albert Luthuli received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

Successive Norwegian governments offered moral, practical and diplomatic support to the liberation movement, the trade unions and the churches in their resistance to apartheid.

The Norwegian government began to support the ANC directly in 1977, and
the ties between South Africa and Norway were further tightened during reconstruction and development efforts post-apartheid.

The manner, in which South Africa’s democracy was born, the trajectory of its economic development and governance, as well as its commitment to peaceful co-existence with neighbours, has given distinguished clout and status to the country.

As an international negotiator and promoter of peace, Norway stands behind South Africa’s foreign policy over the past decade in assuming the role of peacemaker and negotiator in Africa, and a champion of Africa’s interests abroad. Norway is co-operating with South Africa in the Training for Peace Programme (TfP), which aims to achieve this purpose on the Continent. The governments of South Africa and Norway held their first annual bilateral Human Rights talks in April 2010 and will continue the work towards establishing common ground and areas of cooperation both bilaterally and internationally.

Innovation Norway has offices in both Cape Town and Pretoria, located at the Norwegian Consulate and the Norwegian Embassy, respectively. Both Norway and South Africa have identified the oceans, renewable energy and and the maritime sector as priority areas.

South African exports to Norway include fuels, minerals, and agriculture products. The main areas of Norwegian trade and investment in South Africa are within information technology, and energy.