Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will today receive President Francois Hollande of France for his first state visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
According to the Presidency, the visit will take relations between the two countries to a higher level.
“South Africa will engage France informed by the country’s new socio-economic blueprint, the National Development Plan (NDP), which spells out what society in South Africa should be by the year 2030, prioritising inclusive economic growth, job creation and prosperity.
“Economic discussions will take place particularly against the background of the two key instruments which now fall under the NDP umbrella - the New Growth Path and the Industrial Action Policy Plan,” the Presidency said.
The New Growth Path outlines six job drivers that the South African economy should focus on. These are infrastructure development, agriculture, mining and beneficiation, manufacturing, the green economy and tourism.
“The state visit will particularly be used to deepen cooperation in areas such as manufacturing, skills development, energy, maritime, agriculture, science and technology, arts and culture and development cooperation,” the Presidency said.
Also expected to be discussed by the two leaders is cooperation on peace and security in the continent and in promoting Africa’s regional infrastructure development programme and economic integration initiatives.
President Zuma and President Hollande also lead fraternal political parties, the ANC and the Socialist Party. The two leaders interact regularly to discuss issues of bilateral and global importance.
President Zuma is scheduled to attend the African peace and security summit that will be hosted by President Hollande in France in December.
President Hollande will be accompanied by a business delegation that will meet with South African counterparts in Sandton today.
The Presidency said South Africa values its relations with the European Union. – SAnews.gov.za
