Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in Italy to meet Prime Minister Mario Monti and to celebrate the Solidarity Pact with the City of Reggio Emilia

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Created on Monday, 08 October 2012 09:05

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will   undertake a working visit the Republic of Italy on 09 - 10 October 2012. The Deputy President will be accompanied on this visit by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba.

During his visit, the Deputy President will meet with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in order to review the scope of relations between South Africa and Italy and identify possible further areas of cooperation.

At the invitation of Confindustria, an association of leading Italian industrialists and manufacturers, Deputy President Motlanthe will address a business luncheon on South Africa's Infrastructure Development Programme and opportunities for investment.

Furthermore, the Deputy President will attend the 35th Anniversary celebration of the Solidarity Pact between the City of Reggio Emilia and South Africa. On this occasion, there will be an exhibition "Reggio Africa” and an official opening of "Reggio Africa Archive”, which hosts historical documents on Africa and particularly South Africa.

The community of Reggio Emilia played an active role in supporting the struggle for freedom and democracy in South Africa.

Italy is one of South Africa's leading trade and investment partners. In 2011, it was ranked as South Africa's 11th trade partner with total exports to Italy amounting to R14.6 billion.
In 2009, the inflows of foreign direct investments stood at R4.4 billion.

Relations between South Africa and Italy have been strengthened through interaction at bilateral and multilateral levels, specifically within the context of the European Union, the G8, G20, the support for and the implementation of the G8 Africa Action Plan through NEPAD and the United Nations, principally with regard to peacekeeping missions and humanitarian efforts.