Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde welcomes fruitful discussions with the UK trade delegation
Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde says this week’s visit by UK prime Minister Theresa May and a contingent of British businesses and investors, showed real potential for partnership with the Western Cape.
May and the delegation met with president Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town on Tuesday, after which she addressed an Investment Summit in the city.
During her address, May highlighted the economic potential that exists in Africa and pledged to boost investment on the continent saying: “From the Western Cape to the Mediterranean come stories of increasing stability, growth, innovation and hope.”
Minister Winde said: “The high level business delegation comprised of businesses ranging from bio-tech to water purification, and many of the businesses were in line with our current challenges in the Western Cape. I saw real potential for business to business opportunities,” he said.
“Prime Minister May’s plans to boost investment on the continent to create jobs is exactly in line with what we are trying to achieve here in the Western Cape. We also welcome the confirmation by Prime Minister May that the UK intends to carry over the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreement with the Southern African Customs Union once the EU deal no longer applies to the UK.”
Members of the delegation also met with Western Cape Government partners, Green Cape and Wesgro to discuss the green economy and trade opportunities, respectively.
Green Cape hosted Welsh secretary of state, the Right Honourable Alun Cairns, who emphasised that he was exploring trade opportunities in South Africa for Welsh companies. Two Welsh businesses, Hydro Industries and Sure Chill, were also part of the delegation visiting South Africa.
Green Cape CEO Mike Mulcahy said: “It was wonderful hosting the Rt Hon Cairns. We discussed some of the opportunities present and evolving within South Africa's water, waste, energy and agricultural sectors. We were proud to share our 2018 market intelligence reports which elucide many of these opportunities in some detail. There was also a meaningful conversation about skills and re-skilling strategies for coal miners, a challenge Wales faced many years ago - and one South Africa will face over the coming years as we move to a lowest cost, low carbon energy future."
Wesgro CEO Tim Harris said: “It was an honour to have UK Prime Minister Theresa May address us in the Province on Tuesday. We fully support the signing of the joint statement between the UK, Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique Economic Partnership Agreement to ensure continuity and strengthening of our trade relations. We wish Prime Minister May a safe, and equally fruitful trip to Nigeria and Kenya.”
Media enquiries:
Bianca Capazorio
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 072 372 7044
E-mail: bianca.capazorio@westerncape.gov.za
