Photo by: BLOOMBERG
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has concluded an official visit to Portugal aimed at strengthening trade ties and exploring new areas of cooperation between the two countries, which last year traded goods worth in excess of R3.6-billion.
The Gauteng provincial government said on Thursday that the visit, which was undertaken at the invitation of the Portugese government, saw bilateral discussions on cooperation around infrastructure investment and development, the expansion of the agriculture value chain, jewellery manufacturing and energy.
Discussions also focused on the modernisation of public administration, with Gauteng having drawn on “important lessons” from the Portuguese Agency for Administrative Modernisation.
This followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency and the Portuguese Agency for Investment and External Trade in 2010.
“Based on the interaction between the Gauteng government, Portugal and business, it is clear that there is potential for South Africa and Portugal to significantly increase trade and investment.
“Necessary steps have been agreed to in order to follow up on the commitments made to fully exploit new areas for trade and investment for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” said the province.