Media Statement

01 November 2019

Deputy Minister Botes to undertake a Working Visit to Dublin

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will on Tuesday, 05 November 2019, co-chair the inaugural South Africa-Ireland Joint Commission for Cooperation with the Minister of the State for the Diaspora and International Development of Ireland, Mr Ciarán Cannon, in Dublin, Ireland.

The Joint Commission is aimed at strengthening and expanding cooperation in line with the priorities of the two governments, particularly in the areas of agriculture, science and technology, education, arts and culture and development cooperation.

Since 2004, bilateral relations between the two countries have been managed through the biennial meetings of the South Africa-Ireland Partnership Forum which met at the level of Deputy Minister. The most recent Partnership Forum between South Africa and Ireland was held on 31 October 2017 in Pretoria, co-chaired by the former Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Mr Luwellyn Landers, and Irish Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr Ciarán Cannon.

The Joint Commission in Dublin will be preceded by bilateral meetings with Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Investment and Development Agency.

Deputy Minister Botes will also pay a courtesy call on Tànaiste Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Deputy Minister Botes will conclude his visit by attending a roundtable discussion with the Kader Asmal Fellowship programme students studying in Ireland.

Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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