Strengthening ASEAN - SA relations

9 November 2018

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule received a courtesy call from the Heads of Mission of the Asean Pretoria Committee (APC), led by the Chair Mr Nizan Mohamad, and presented a cash donation in conjuction with the Centenary of Nelson Mandela.

Photo:  Chad Jacinto - Consul at Philippines Embassy, Ambassador U Myint Swe of Myanmar, Ambassador Salman Al Farisi of Indonesia, High Commissioner Mohamad Nizan Mohamad of Malaysia, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Reginah Mhaule, High Commissioner Thai-Keong Chua of Singapore, Ambassador Vu Van Dzung of Vietnam and Ambassador Komate Kamalanavin of Thailand (Yandisa Monakali - DIRCO)

The ASEAN Heads of Mission thanked Dirco for their continued engagement and emphasized the importance of ASEAN - South Africa relations and hoped for the strenthening of these ties going forward.

SA and Spain review relations

13 November 2018

The 12th South Africa-Spain Annual Consultations, which serve as the main forum for coordinating bilateral relations between the two countries, kicked off in Spain on Monday.

Photo (l-r): Mr C E Fernandez-Arias Minuesa, Ambassador of Spain to SA, SA Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Luwellyn Landers, Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Fernando Martín Valenzuela Marzo and Mr L S Ngonyama, Ambassador of South Africa in Spain (Dirco News Service/ Katlholo Maifadi)

The consultations, which were co-chaired by Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers and his counterpart Fernando Martín Valenzuela Marzo, was an opportunity for South Africa and Spain to strengthen relations on a wide range of issues in bilateral, political and economic matters.  

South Africa hosts Czech Republic Political Consultations

13 November 2018

Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers hosted the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr Martin Tlapa for Political Consultations on 09 November 2018. The 2018 Political Consultations focussed on Trade and Investment, Tourism, Defence Cooperation and Science and Technology.

The last round of Political Consultations took place in Prague, Czech Republic on 14-15 November 2016 when Deputy Minister Landers was hosted by Deputy Minister Tlapa for bilateral discussions and these were utilised to strengthen bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries, while the meeting also discussed co-operation in the field of Trade and Investment, Science & Technology, Defence and Education.

New commitments for digital transformation and mobilising private capital - SA and Germany

12 November 2018

Government negotiations on South  African-German development cooperation took place from the 5th to 8th of November in Pretoria. The German delegation was headed by Mr Guenter Nooke, the German Chancellor's personal representative for Africa at the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The South African delegation was led by Mr Robin Toli, Chief Director in the National Treasury: International Development Cooperation unit.

As a result of the negotiations, Germany funded an additional 253.6 million euros in 2017/2018, bringing its overall commitments to a total of 1.5 billion euros bilateral programme support since 1994. The key focus areas that will continue to benefit from the bilateral commitment are renewable energy and climate protection, good governance and local development, skills development, and combating HIV & AIDS.

Egypt honors Nelson Mandela’s grandson at WYF

8 November 2018

The second edition of the World Youth Forum (WYF) kicked off on November 3rd, 2018, in the city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, under the auspices of H.E. President of the Republic, Abdelfatah Al-Sisi, with the participation of around 5000 prominent young people of 163 nationalities, and a strong presence by South African youth.

Photo: President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi of Egypt honoring Zondwa Mandela

The legacy of the late President Nelson Mandela was honored in a special ceremony that coincides with the centenary celebrations of his birth.

Madiba's grandson, Zondwa Mandela, said in the inauguration last Saturday that "Egypt has once again returned to the African continent to support its unity and unanimity, Egypt is going in the right direction, and my heart is always with Egypt."

95th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey

8 November 2018

Ms Elif Çomoğlu Űlgen, Ambassador of Turkey hosted a reception at Turkish house in Pretoria, SA to celebrate Turkey's national day.

2018, said Ambassador Çomoğlu Űlgen, will be remembered as a landmark year in terms of Turkey-South Africa relations. Amongst the events marking this was Turkey being invited as a BRICS PLUS partner to the BRICS Summit which was successfully hosted by the Government of South Africa and the new Embassy Premises being inaugurated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Kenya-South Africa Visa Review

06 November 2018
 
On behalf of the KEDASA (Kenyan Diaspora in South Africa) Executive Committee, its members and the entire Kenyan Diaspora in South Africa, we welcome the move to scrap short-term visa requirements for Kenyans and the easing of visa application rules and entry conditions for business community and academia traveling to South Africa.

Photo: Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and 'South Africa Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba in Pretoria

We applaud the Government of Kenya and South Africa for this milestone achievement and take this opportunity to congratulate HE. Ambassador Jean Kamau and her team for working hand in hand with the Department of Home Affairs to make this landmark achievement.

In this new era of integrations, this move will improve trade, skill and technology transfer between the two nations for mutual benefit.

The 9th Annual GBR World Congress for Trade & Investment

7 November 2018
 
The Global Business Roundtable (GBR) is hosting its 9th Annual World Congress for Trade and Investment. The 9th GBR World Congress aims to provide an unparalleled global platform where leaders and decision makers from all sectors address ways in which global economic growth and equitable distribution of wealth and resources can occur. Central to the high-level discussions is Africa’s positioning and participation, which will effectively advance the economic development agenda of the continent.

Photo: Mr Sipho Mseleku is the Executive Chairman of Sakhumnotho Group Holdings. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Global Business Roundtable

The diverse and content-rich programme caters for big corporates, public sector, SMMEs, technical and financial partners wishing to explore trade and investment opportunities through various types of partnership models including, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and entrepreneurs seeking finance for their projects. The event aims to attract representatives from over 100 nations, for meaningful dialogue through high-level plenary sessions. Plenary sessions are designed to bring diverse perspectives and practical solutions to the issues raised by industry, government and private sector representatives.

18th IORA Council of Ministers

02 November 2018

The 18th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) was held at the Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani Hotel in Durban, South Africa on 2 November 2018 under the theme selected by South Africa for the period of its Chairmanship: “IORA: Uniting the Peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East through enhanced cooperation for Peace, Stability And Sustainable Development”.

Photo: South Africa’s High Commissioner to Mauritius Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu and Secretary General of IORA Ambassador Dr Nomvuyo Nokwe (Jacoline Schoonees)

The Meeting was chaired by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Foreign Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, and Chair of the Association. At the outset the gathering observed a moment of silence in respect of the recent tragedies of tsunami and Lion Air JT610 airplane crash in Indonesia.

India's Jindal Global University Founding Vice Chancellor Prof Kumar wins the Global Education Leaders Award

4 November 2018

By  Srimal Fernando  

Jindal Global University (JGU) Founding Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr) C. Raj Kumar was felicitated with the Global Education Leaders Award for his contribution to research, innovation and institution building in higher education at the India-UAE Partnership Summit 2018  Prof. Kumar received the award from UAE Cabinet Minister of Tolerance HH Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and Navdeep Suri, Ambassador of India to the UAE.
 
In the nine years the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) was ranked among the top 450 universities in Asia.