Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will this weekend lead a South African delegation to Japan for a working visit which will consolidate political and economic bilateral relations between the two countries.
Deputy President Ramaphosa, who will touch down in Tokyo on Saturday and be there until Tuesday, will use the visit to reassure Japanese business that South Africa is open for business when he addresses the Japanese captains of industry.
The organisation boasts a membership of about 1329 representative companies, 109 nation-wide industrial associations and 47 regional economic organisation.
Deputy President Ramaphosa is also expected to address the South Africa-Business Forum Plenary, chair a round-table discussion on investment in energy and meet with the Vice-President of Jetro, Tomiyasu Nakamura.
Jetro is an organisation that promotes trade and investment between Japan the rest of the world. It also promotes foreign direct investment into the country while assisting to small and medium size enterprises to maximise their global export potential.
According to the Presidency, he will also brief the Japanese about the “stability, vibrancy and conducive business environment that exists in South Africa for Japanese business to invest in the country particularly in ventures that can create jobs”.
This as South Africa is currently exploring new and innovative ways of growing the economy.
Deputy President Ramaphosa will also utilise the visit to secure commitments from Japan regarding efforts to combat the scourge of HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
In this light, he will seek to tap into the vast Japanese expertise and innovative technologies to increase collaboration in the fields of science and technology with a view to attracting essential skills in support of South Africa’s training and human resource development.
“South Africa and Japan will explore partnerships to promote innovation and technology to boost economic growth. This also comes within the context of South Africa’s implementation of the nine-point plan to strengthen the economy,” the Presidency said on Thursday.
The visit is also expected to consolidate the objectives of the African Agenda through the strengthening of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) partnership by promoting increased trade, investment growth and infrastructure development in the continent of Africa.
This as Pretoria continues to act within efforts of the African continent to facilitate African growth through Agenda 2063.
At a political level Deputy President Ramaphosa will pay courtesy calls on the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and hold discussions with the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Sadakazu Tanigaki.
Deputy President Ramaphosa will furthermore pay a site visit to a Toyota plant in Tokyo which will include a presentation of the MIRAI hydrogen fuel cell vehicle developed by the company.
In addition, he will pay a visit to Miraikan – a Japanese national museum of emerging science and innovation located in Daiba, Tokyo.
His schedule also includes a visit to the ICT, manufacturing, engineering and the Advance Step Innovative Mobility- a humanoid robot developed by Honda as well as seize the opportunity to hold discussions with Ambassador Yasushi Akashi on peace-building efforts, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka.
Deputy President Ramaphosa is President Jacob Zuma’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka
The Deputy President is being accompanied by Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Bheki Cele, Deputy Minister of International Relations Nomaindia Mfeketo and Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Mzwandile Masina, among others. - SAnews.gov.za
