Singapore - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 6 October 2016 address Singaporean investors where he will reiterate the positive message that South Africa remains open for business and a preferred destination for investments. Deputy President Ramaphosa arrived in Singapore from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam where he paid a working visit from Monday-Tuesday 3-4 October 2016.

The working visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral political, economic and trade relations between South Africa and Singapore which is South Africa’s second largest trading partner in the Asean region. By 2014 bilateral trade totalled R28.9 as compared to R23.5 billion in 2015 with exports amounting to R6.8 billion while imports amounted to R16.6 billion.

Accordingly Deputy President Ramaphosa will seek to unlock future areas of trade and investment while attracting investments into South Africa from Singaporean investors and state-owned enterprises through the public-private partnership to advance the objective of South Africa’s National Development Plan.

The visit provides an excellent opportunity for the South African delegation to learn from the Singaporean model of economic success and the role of state-owned enterprises in advancing economic growth and national developmental objectives of the country.

On arrival on Wednesday, Deputy President Ramaphosa paid a courtesy call on Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam and held bilateral discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shunmugaratnam before attending a briefing session by the Singaporean Housing Development Board.

On Thursday 6 October Deputy President Ramaphosa will address Singaporean investors, hold discussions with the Government Investment Corporation and interact with the Management of Temasek. On Friday 7 October Deputy President Ramaphosa and his delegation will visit the Port of Singapore Authority.

Deputy President Ramaphosa’s delegation to Singapore comprises Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Nomaindia Mfeketo; Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Barbara Thomson, Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises Bulelani Magwanishe; Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Kebby Maphatsoe; Deputy Minister of Economic Development Madala Masuku, senior government officials and advisors.

The delegation also includes a business delegation consisting of SDB Holdings (PTY) LTD, Xpanse, South African Airways, Thebe Investment Corporation, Semona Group, Saldanha Bay IDZ, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Transnet Ports Authority and SAFCOL.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at +27-82 990 4853

The Presidency
Pretoria