SA, Jamaica cement ties

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is in Jamaica on a working visit.

On Sunday Minister Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to address the International Women’s Forum (IWF) which is held under the theme: “Phenomenal Women”.

She will on Monday hold bilateral consultations with her counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Arnold J. Nicholson, in Jamaica’s capital, Kingston.

The ministers are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Political Consultations.

“Whilst in Kingston, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will also pay a courtesy call to the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in Jamaica on Saturday.

South Africa and Jamaica enjoy strong bilateral relations as symbolised by high-level visits and various agreements signed across a number of sectors since 1994. 

The key sectoral areas of cooperation include education and skills development, science and technology, arts and culture as well as tourism.

“However, trade remains minimal and considerably imbalanced in South Africa’s favour.  The move to develop Jamaica as a logistics hub has a potential to improve trade between South Africa and Jamaica,” the department said. - SAnews.gov.za