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South Africa’s Ministerial delegation, led by the Minister in the Presidency, Mr Jeff Radebe has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the 3rd annual innovaBRICS conference in London. The conference is part-sponsored by the South African government through BrandSA.

The country’s international marketing agency, Brand South Africa, has been a lead partner with innovaBRICS, a business networking forum, since its inception in 2012. South Africa's participation in the innovaBRICS conference will be within the context of promoting the country as a prime business destination and the National Development Plan.

Minister Radebe is accompanied by Dr Rob Davies, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Nhlanhla Nene, the Minister of Finance and Ms Faith Muthambi, the Minister of Communications. Radebe will this morning open the 3rd annual innovaBRICS conference and together with Ministers also brief opinion makers and potential investors on the progress made by the country since 1994.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has dismissed media reports suggesting that President Jacob Zuma cancelled the working visit to the UK where he was to open the innovaBRICS conference because he was refused an audience with British Prime Minister David Cameron as  incorrect and mischievous.

Presidential Spokesperson, Mac Maharaj said that it was not compulsory for President Zuma to meet British Prime Minister Mr David Cameron as the visit was not a South Africa-UK bilateral visit which necessitates an engagement at a government level

South Africa and the United Kingdom have extensive trade and economic relations which continue to strengthen, despite the global economic challenges. Last year, the United Kingdom was South Africa’s 8th largest export market globally, and the 2nd largest in the European Union after Germany.

Issued by Government