Malabo - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, today, Thursday 20 November 2014, to represent President Jacob Zuma and South Africa at the 2nd Africa-Turkey Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The Summit takes place today and tomorrow, Friday 21 November.

The Summit is expected to be opened by the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Organised around the theme, “New Model of partnership for the strengthening of sustainable development and integration”, the Summit is expected to discuss among other key issues the matrix of key projects, an implementation plan as well as the Summit Outcomes Declaration.

While Africa has proposed a number of projects for consideration, the key focus of the Africa-Turkey matrix projects is currently on the following areas: 

1. Peace and security, looking into counter-terrorism and the training of national police forces

2. Trade and investment focusing on capacity-building

3. Culture, tourism and education

4. Youth empowerment

5. Technology transfer

6. Rural economy and Agriculture

7. Infrastructure, Energy, ICT and Transport

The Summit will expectedly be preceded by meetings of Ministers and senior government officials whose recommendations will serve as a basis for discussions and decision-making by heads of state and government, culminating in the adoption of the Summit Declaration.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is also expected to hold several bilateral discussions on the margins of the Summit before returning to South Africa later on Friday 21 November 2014.

For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on +27 82 990 4853 or Clayson Monyela (DIRCO) on +27 82 884 5974.

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria