Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected in Sweden on Sunday for the South Africa-Sweden Bi-National Commission, the Presidency said on Friday.
The visit is part of a three-nation visit, which will see the Deputy President also visiting Cuba and Mexico.
The four-day visit to Sweden is aimed at consolidating political and economic bilateral relations between the two countries in the areas of trade and industry, science and technology, higher education, environment, water and sanitation, telecommunications and co-operative governance.
The Bi-National Commission, which will be co-chaired with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Asa Romson, will witness the launch of the environment, energy and water sub-committee which will add to existing committees on political affairs, economic affairs, science and technology and a forum on human rights.
“This year’s Bi-National Commission session will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between South African Medical Research Council and the Swedish Research Council to advance co-operation in the area of health research.
“Similarly, Letters of Intent on Water Research and Water Resource Management will be signed to advance co-operation in water research and management,” said the Presidency.
A letter of intent will also be signed on environmental protection and climate change.
The South African delegation will explore initiatives to implement ICT SMME development, digital opportunities programme under SA Connect through skills development for communities, e-skills development programme and the research, development and innovation.
“The delegation will also seek co-operation to expand twinning partnerships between South African and Swedish municipalities to support training and capacity building in infrastructure planning, improvement of public participation and municipal governance through exchanges.“
The delegation will include Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindia Mfeketo and Higher Education Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana.
While in Sweden, Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to pay a courtesy call on Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.
The courtesy call, according to the Presidency, is part of efforts to consolidate bilateral relations while deepening co-operation at a multilateral level to transform global political and economic governance, including the reform of the United Nations system, as well as the UN Security Council.
Deputy President Ramaphosa will also lay a wreath at the graveside of the late former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Palme played a pivotal role during the anti-apartheid struggle in pursuit of peace, freedom and justice in South Africa.
At an investor level, Deputy President Ramaphosa will address the Swedish Business Forum and interact with a select group of senior executives of Swedish companies as part of efforts to encourage more trade and foreign direct investment into South Africa.
“This will happen within the overall thrust of the National Development Plan to grow our economy with a view to addressing our domestic triple challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty,” said the Presidency.
Sweden ranks among South Africa’s major trading partners within the EU.
Despite fluctuations, official data indicates that the overall trade between the two countries grew from R13.1 billion in 2010 to R13.6 billion in 2014.
South African exports increased from R2. 3 billion to R2. 4 billion between 2013 and 2014 due to an increase in demand for agro-processed products and advanced manufactured goods such as grape wines, beverage spirits, vinegar, iron and steel.
Imports from Sweden on the other hand grew by 14% between 2010 and 2012 to R12 billion. More can still be done to increase the volume of value-added products from South Africa to Sweden particularly in medium to high technology manufacturing. - SAnews.gov.za
