Transport Minister, Honourable Dipuo Peters (MP) will lead a high-level delegation of senior government officials to Chicago, Illinois in the United States of America from 30 July to 1 August 2014.
The African Leaders’ Visit: Transport to Chicago, IL, to be attended by Transport Ministers and high-level delegations from Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia and Nigeria will be hosted by the United States Trade and Development Agency and the United States Department of Transportation.
The visit presents an opportunity for high-level officials from five of Africa’s largest economies together with high-level officials from the United States to engage in exploring how investments in state-of-the art transportation infrastructure drives economic growth, in particular with reference to fostering economic growth through investments in rail, aviation infrastructure and partnerships within the transportation industry.
The high-level delegations will engage with business executives, financiers and leaders of the diaspora communities to deliberate on building transportation infrastructure and investment opportunities. The participation of the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA) will also highlight the significance of regional solutions to globally competitive logistics networks.
Some of the highlights in Minister Peters’s itinerary during the African Leaders’ Visit will include a Transportation Roundtable with Secretary of the US Department of Transportation, Honourable Anthony Foxx, a Rail Yard Site Visit and Tour, an Investment Opportunities Breakfast, a Dinner on Transportation in Africa and a Site Visit and Tour at the Chicago O’Hare Airport.
In September 2011, the Republic of South Africa and the United States of America signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) which serves as a framework for structured implementation of sector specific initiatives. The Agreement provides for cooperation in Infrastructure transport planning matters, also providing practical advice to all spheres of government.
In order to unpack the status of infrastructure and harmonisation of transport standards in the SADC region, a study was undertaken to examine this position so as to ensure that the transport infrastructure link to South Africa’s neighbouring countries meets acceptable standards.
Minister Peter will establish a multi-modal Transport Advisory panel comprising experts on all modes of transport, researchers, academic institutions and major transport stakeholders.
Enquiries:
Tiyani Ponto-Rikhotso
Cell: 083 570 1275
