The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will host the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, HE Mr Alexander Schallenberg, for Bilateral Consultations.
The visit by Minister Schallenberg will serve as a platform to discuss South Africa-Austria bilateral relations as well as international issues of mutual concern.
South Africa and Austria have longstanding bilateral relations, which are currently on an upward trajectory, with South Africa having successfully hosted the Third Meeting of the South Africa-Austria Bilateral Consultations in Pretoria on 7 June 2022, and with the prospect of a State Visit from Austria planned for 2024.
The main areas of cooperation are:
- trade and investment
- higher education, science and innovation
- energy
- environment
- arts and culture.
South Africa is positioned as Austria’s main trade and investment partner in Africa. Almost a third of Austria’s exports to Africa are destined for the South African market, and more than a third of all African exports to Austria come from South Africa.
The two Ministers are expected to hold a media briefing at the conclusion of the meeting.
The media are invited as follows:
Date: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria
Please RSVP by 15h00 on Wednesday, 13 December 2023: MaebaF@dirco.gov.za
Enquiries:
Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO
Cell: 082 884 5974
