Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Kgalema Motlanthe, to undertake a working visit to the USA.

Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Kgalema Motlanthe, is scheduled to undertake a Working Visit to the United States of America from 27 to 31 March 2011. The visit will cover three states, namely,  New York, Washington and Chicago.

The Deputy President’s visit to the USA will be within the context of strengthening bilateral, political and economic relations with the United States in support of South Africa’s domestic priorities and foreign policy objectives.

Accordingly, the core objectives of the visit are as follows:

• Promotion of bilateral political relations through discussions on key issues of importance and mutual interest which include regional peace, security and stability, and multilateral cooperation;
• Promotion of bilateral trade and investment; and
• Promotion of knowledge transfer and capacity building opportunities.

The two countries enjoy close bilateral relations marked by a significant increase in regular high level interactions that have taken place between President Zuma and President Obama, Deputy President Motlanthe and Vice President Biden, as well as the two Foreign Ministers who  met on 14 December 2010 for the inaugural Strategic Dialogue which took place in Washington D.C.

In 2010, the United States was South Africa’s second largest trade partner, with total trade amounting to R97.5 billion, an increase of 17.6 % from the previous year.

Other than the high levels of trade and investment with the US, it is also one of the most significant partners with regard to Official Development Assistance (ODA), especially in the fight against HIV/Aids and other infectious diseases through the PEPFAR programme.

Deputy President Motlanthe will be accompanied by Ministers Blade Nzimande of Higher Education; Tina Joemat-Pettersson of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Ebrahim Patel of Economic Development; and Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim of International Relations and Cooperation.

The Deputy President is expected to conclude his working visit to the United States of America on 31 March 2011.

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

23 March 2011