Pretoria – South Africa and Portugal have strengthened their relations and explored new areas of co-operation, says Gauteng Premier David Makhura.
At the conclusion of his visit to Portugal, on Thursday, the Premier expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Portugal for their warm welcome and hospitality.
He said South Africa and Portugal share historic ties which started centuries ago and the people of these two countries continue to relate warmly.
“Regular cultural exchanges and significant volumes of trade and investment demonstrate these relations,” the Premier said in a statement.
Figures for 2014 show a total trade value between South Africa and Portugal at R3.6 billion. Gauteng, as South Africa’s economic hub, is home to many Portuguese companies doing business in South Africa.
Since the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency and the Portuguese Agency for Investment and External Trade signed a memorandum of understanding in 2010 there has been continuous interaction and exchange of information which has led to an increased flow of trade and investment.
Based on the interaction between the Gauteng government, Portugal and business, it is clear that there is potential for South Africa and Portugal to significantly increase trade and investment.
Discussions between the Gauteng government and Portuguese government explored cooperation in the following areas, infrastructure investment and development, expansion of agriculture value chain, jewellery manufacturing and energy, especially renewable energy.
Discussion also focused on mordernisation of public administration and in this regard Gauteng can draw important lessons from the Portuguese Agency for Administrative Modernization (AMA).
Premier Makhura expressed appreciation of the Portuguese government’s commitment to work with the South African government and Gauteng in particular to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
Necessary steps have been agreed to in order to follow up on the commitments made to fully exploit new areas for trade and investment for the mutual benefit of the two countries. – SAnews.gov.za
