Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to return to the republic today after concluding his three-nation tour which ended in Mexico.
Deputy President Ramaphosa was on a three-nation visit that also saw him visit Sweden and Cuba.
In his last stop, Mexico, Deputy President Ramaphosa attended the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit under the theme ‘The role of open government in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development”.
During the summit, South Africa assumed the leadership and chairpersonship of the organisation.
The objective of the OGP -- which was formed in 2011 and currently comprises 66 member-states -- is to improve government transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens with the aim of improving services and reducing poverty.
While in Mexico, Deputy President Ramaphosa also paid a courtesy call on Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
The two discussed the consolidation of bilateral political, economic and trade relations, said the Presidency on Thursday.
Deputy President Ramaphosa had an opportunity to address the Business Breakfast and Trade and Investment Seminar.
He also had an opportunity to meet with Carlos Slim, the founder of Grupo Carso, with a view to assuring Mexican business leaders that South Africa remains open for business and investment opportunities.
Deputy President Ramaphosa also met with the leadership of the ruling Mexican political party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party.
Mexico is regarded as South Africa’s biggest trading partner in Latin America after Brazil and Argentina.
Bilateral trade has been growing but there was a slump in South Africa’s exports to Mexico in 2013 and 2014.
South African companies such as Aspen and Old Mutual have, however, increased their footprint in Mexico, with Aspen having moved into the group of the 20 biggest companies in Mexico.
Deputy President Ramaphosa was supported by the Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation Luwellyn Landers, Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina and Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo. - SAnews.gov.za
