President lays foundation for new partnership with United Kingdom

President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded his State Go to to the UK of Nice Britain and Northern Island, the place he championed a brand new partnership between British capital and expertise and South African alternative and industrial capability.

The President led a South African delegation on the primary such go to to be hosted by His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort.

Through the go to, the President interacted with King Charles III, and with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Road.

The President additionally obtained a courtesy name by Chief of the opposition Labour Get together Sir Keir Starmer.

The President has expressed his appreciation for the heat of King Charles III’s internet hosting of the State Go to in addition to the King’s open and visionary engagement on  improvement, training, the setting and mitigation of local weather change.

The President’s engagement with Prime Minister Sunak centred on upgrading commerce and funding ranges between the 2 nations and creating extra alternatives in British markets for South African items and commodities, to guard jobs in South Africa and develop the nation’s manufacturing and agricultural business.

The leaders mentioned cooperation in commerce and funding, power, well being, science, setting and better training and innovation, together with the promotion of training and expertise change programmes in academia and technical expertise for youth.

President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Sunak additionally engaged on the Simply Power Transition Funding Partnership during which the UK has dedicated itself alongside the US, the European Union, France and Germany to supply monetary assist for South Africa’s transition to an financial system and power combine that’s much less depending on coal.

The President and Prime Sunak explored methods during which the partnership may improve the proportion of financing that could possibly be offered as grants moderately than concessional funding together with loans.

Accompanied by UK Secretary of State for Worldwide Commerce The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, MP, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Commerce, Trade and Competitors participated in a UK-SA Enterprise Discussion board and roundtable the place traders pledged continued engagement with South Africa.

President Ramaphosa assured enterprise leaders of South Africa’s continued assist for current and potential traders and outlined the quite a few alternatives on provide to traders in a diversified financial system the place financial development is required for South Africa to handle the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Through the go to, the President positioned South Africa as a key vacation spot for funding and as a gateway to a dynamic continent that’s increasing its manufacturing, is quickly urbanising and has a younger inhabitants. 

South Africa is a number one mining financial system, with confirmed capabilities in superior manufacturing, science and expertise. 

South Africa has refined monetary programs and Africa’s deepest capital market, the place the rule of legislation is robust and there may be agency safety of contracts and property rights. 

On this context, President Ramaphosa urged – in an deal with to a banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor Alderman Nicholas Lyons and the Metropolis of London Company – a brand new partnership between the UK and South Africa.

The President envisions a brand new partnership round funding; local weather change and inexperienced business; science, innovation and expertise, and commerce in items and providers.

Accompanied by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and brother to King Charles III, President Ramaphosa had the chance to go to Kew Gardens in West London the place he obtained a briefing on cooperation between the UK and South Africa within the space of botanical sciences and the conservation of doubtless or already endangered plant species. Right here, the President additionally participated in a roundtable dialogue on biodiversity and local weather change.

The President paid a go to to the Francis Crick Institute for biomedical analysis in London the place quite a few South African scientists, together with PhD candidates, are contributing to or main analysis into epidemics corresponding to COVID-19 and different world well being threats such because the Hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis.

At this go to, the President and Prince Edward witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding that anticipate nearer cooperation between South Africa and the UK in well being, and science, expertise, analysis and innovation.

The memoranda have been signed by Minister of Larger Schooling, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande and Well being Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and their respective counterparts, the UK Minister Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Enterprise, Power and Industrial Technique, and Minister Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Well being and Social Care.

The President’s go to has cemented the robust bonds that exist between the UK and South Africa, characterised by a shared historical past and a standard want to sort out at present’s challenges and aspirations.

President Ramaphosa described his go to to Buckingham Palace as historic and memorable, offering the UK and South Africa the chance to deepen bilateral ties in addition to cooperation by way of different boards, together with the Commonwealth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.