Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma, who recently returned from a state visit to Nigeria, is to undertake a diplomatic blitz which will see him visit France, Saudi Arabia and the United States, this month.
President Zuma will next week Wednesday touch down in France, where he will attend the formal launch of the new UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth.
President Zuma is the co-chair, along with French President François Hollande, of the new commission that focuses on health employment and economic growth.
The commission, according to the UN, will stimulate the creation of new employment opportunities in the health sector across all countries, especially in least developed ones.
The focus of the commission goes to the heart of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted in September last year and which could go a long way to address the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
President Zuma will also visit Saudi Arabia from 27 - 28 March 2016. The state visit will strengthen existing relations between the two countries. The oil rich Middle East is an important trade zone for South Africa as it holds great potential for South Africa as an export market, and serves as a potential source of foreign direct investment.
South Africa’s exports to Saudi Arabia showed an increase from R2.6 billion in 2013 to R4.7 billion in 2014, reflected by an annual growth of 80.62% in 201.
The President will attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit, which will be held in Washington from 31 March to 1 April.
The summit will discuss the evolving threat of nuclear terrorism and highlight steps that can be taken by the international community to minimise the use of highly enriched uranium, secure vulnerable materials, counter nuclear smuggling and deter, detect and disrupt attempts at nuclear terrorism.
Cabinet welcomes Nigeria visit
Meanwhile, Cabinet said President Zuma’s visit to Nigeria last week enhanced the existing bilateral political, economic and social ties.
One of the milestones of the visit was the elevation of the Binational Commission to the Head of State level, which prioritises economic development between the two countries.
“Cabinet welcomes the opening of Nigeria’s economy to South African companies in various sectors such as engineering, telecommunications, construction, aviation, media, hospitality, banking, hospitality, entertainment, property, retail, and oil and gas exploration services,” Cabinet said.
Cabinet said that it looks forward to the increase in the number of Nigerian investments in South Africa that will promote two-way trade between the two nations.
“The outcomes from this engagement between two of the largest economies on the continent will integrate regional economies, thereby increasing the common market and elevating existing initiatives of economic growth and employment in Africa.” – SAnews.gov.za
