Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says education and skills development remain an apex priority for South Africa.
He said this on Tuesday when he closed the 9th session of the South Africa-Sweden Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Stockholm in Sweden, which he declared constructive and fruitful.
The Deputy President co-chaired the commission with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Åsa Romson. On the margins of the BNC, the co-chairs also held bilateral discussions on issues of mutual interest at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
Following deliberations, the Deputy President expressed gratitude to Sweden for its offer to extend the current full scholarship programme for post-graduate students from South Africa for at least another three years.
“These programmes will allow our young people to study here in Sweden and acquire relevant skills which are essential to develop a diversified, growing economy. This is not just a welcomed critical deliverable of our solid, cooperation and partnership, but an important tangible outcome of this 9th session of the Bi-National Commission,” he said.
The BNC took note of the success of the Swedish-sponsored full scholarship programme and welcomed the announcement of the extension of the programme until 2021.
The programme provides opportunities for study at a post graduate level for South African students at Swedish tertiary institutions in a wide range of fields.
Further efforts will be made to deepen and develop economic relations, not least in the area of trade and investments.
“It is through trade, investment, and economic growth that we can deliver a better life for all our people. Our partnership should therefore lead to greater market access for South African goods into Sweden in order to address the vast trade deficit which is currently in favour of Sweden.
“As I quipped yesterday, we want to sell more than wine into Sweden. The Department of Trade and Industry has researched and identified a number of these products, and we believe Sweden will find our offerings attractive,” he said.
He encouraged Swedish companies located in South Africa to support local South African enterprises by procuring locally manufactured goods for the operation of their businesses.
South Africa has prioritised infrastructure development and industrialisation as its path to economic development and inclusive growth.
On Monday during a business forum, the South African delegation highlighted that the oceans economy and mineral beneficiation had been identified as part of its economic growth trajectory.
“We invited Swedish companies to partner with our people to fully develop these sectors for the benefit of South Africa and Sweden.
“We continue to be an important gateway to the rest of our continent, and working with us, companies from this country have a lot to benefit in a continent with a billion people living in it,” said the Deputy President.
He said the business environment in South Africa was stable, vibrant and conducive to increased trade and investment, and the South African government was committed to improving the investment climate and ease of doing business.
He applauded the people of Sweden for their keen interest in the development of South Africa, especially as it relates to the national developmental agenda.
“We will continue to work together with Sweden on the development of our continent and on resolving challenges that our continent faces.
“As partners both in the bilateral context and through the African Union – United Nations context, we have committed to work together in the promotion of peace, security, and development on the African continent.
“We agreed that both countries will work jointly to strengthen inclusive and sustainable peace building by promoting cooperation among women mediation networks, as well as training of female mediators,” he said.
The Deputy President said South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) continues to form the basis of the country’s contribution towards the attainment of the global Sustainable Development Goals as adopted at the recent UN General Assembly.
He said a number of municipalities across South Africa are engaged in useful and dynamic partnerships with local authorities in Sweden, which further strengthens people-to-people contact at a community level. - SAnews.gov.za
