Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma on Friday welcomed new Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the country at a special ceremony at the Sefako M Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
The new heads of mission from Ghana, Nepal, India, Zimbabwe, Peru, Myanmar, Korea, Jamaica, Japan, Ukraine and South Sudan presented their credentials to the President.
President Zuma told the diplomats that they had come at an opportune time.
“About six months ago our government accepted a new electoral mandate, and I can say that you arrived at the point when we are just at the onset of implementing fresh resolutions, which will hopefully afford you opportunity to find niches for our countries' mutual benefit,” he said.
He said the South African government was still seized with consolidating the achievements of the 20 years of democracy.
“We are expanding on our provision of basic services like electricity, water, sanitation and housing. Our country is also improving on its provision of health and education services to attain our domestic goals and the Millennium Development Goals.
“We are expanding economic opportunities by tapping on the previously unexploited resources in our country, such as marine economy, which has a potential to grow the GDP to between R129 billion and R177 billion in the next 18 years.
“It is our sincerest hope that through you, Excellencies, we will share best practices and opportunities with your countries to optimise the opportunities this sector presents,” said the President.
Through Operation Phakisa government aims to implement its policies and programmes better, faster and more effectively. It will initially be implemented in two sectors: the ocean economy and health.
President Zuma said he was certain that the Ambassadors and High Commissioners would take bilateral relations to a higher level.
He was happy to accept credentials from state parties which are outside the traditional formations such as IBSA, BRICS and many others, which he said ensures a much broadened scope for international partnerships.
President Zuma said he looked forward to the State of the Nation Address in Parliament next week which enables the country to review the past year and look ahead to new opportunities and successes. – SAnews.gov.za
