President Cyril Ramaphosa and a delegation of Ministers are set to return home today following a round trip to Switzerland and India.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded an extended international itinerary on which the President participated in the launch of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) global Report on the Future of Work, the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum [WEF] and India’s 70th Republic Day celebrations,” said the Presidency.
Having begun his international programme on Monday, 21 January 2019, President Ramaphosa and his delegation are due following the President’s first State Visit to the Republic of India where the President was designated Chief Guest at India’s independence celebrations on Saturday.
ILO Global Commission on the Future Work
On the first leg, President Ramaphosa visited the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland, in his capacity as Co-Chair of the ILO Global Commission on the Future Work - a role he shared with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.
The ILO launched the Global Commission’s Report on the Future of Work that focuses on increasing investment in people’s capabilities; increased investment in the institutions of work, and increased investment in decent and sustainable work.
World Economic Forum
From Geneva, the President proceeded to Davos where he led Team South Africa to the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The Forum enabled South Africa to contribute to global dialogue on key issues facing humanity and to engage on key opportunities that are emerging.
“The Forum also presented the President and Team South Africa to impress on the global community the path of renewal and growth on which the country has embarked and to showcase the diverse opportunities for investment and trade partnership across various sectors of the economy.”
India State visit
Following Davos President Ramaphosa visited New Delhi in the Republic of India, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Friday’s visit to India was in the context of strengthening political, economic and cultural bilateral relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi bestowed on the President the honour of Chief Guest for the celebrations, an honour that was granted to former President Nelson Mandela in 1995 when India celebrated its 46th Republic Day celebrations.
At the commencement of the State Visit, President Ramaphosa was honoured with a welcome ceremony where he paid homage to the late Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at the Gandhi memorial site.
During the visit, South Africa and India entered into a Three-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2019-2021) that aims to further enhance the bilateral strategic partnership.
IBSA Forum's Gandhi-Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture
The President also delivered the Inaugural India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Forum's Gandhi-Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture. This year marks the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi that follows former President Nelson Mandela's centenary celebrations.
In paying tribute to the two leaders, President Ramaphosa said "their legacies go far beyond their stature as the founding fathers of our two great independent nations, India and South Africa”.
India-South Africa Business Forum
During the State visit, President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi jointly addressed the India-South Africa Business Forum. At the forum President Ramaphosa said the two countries have complementarities and comparative advantages which can be exploited for mutual benefit, particularly in trade, investment and technical exchanges in information and communications technology, among others.
The President utilised the forum to encourage Indian companies to form partnerships with South Africa’s financial institutions and the private sector to jointly collaborate on projects that can build Africa’s productive capacity and infrastructure.
He also noted the steady increase in trade between South Africa and India from R80 billion to R107 billion over a five-year period from 2013 to 2017.
President Ramaphosa was accompanied by Ministers Lindiwe Sisulu, Rob Davies, Pravin Gordhan, Jeff Radebe, Gwede Mantashe, Naledi Pandor, Senzeni Zokwana, Derek Hanekom and Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. - SAnews.gov.za
