Gauteng Premier David Makhura is on an official visit to Germany and the United Kingdom to promote trade and investment. In Germany Premier Makhura and his delegation will visit the province of Hesse (whose capital city is Frankfurt) and in the United Kingdom they will visit Lancaster and London.

The purpose of the visits is to promote trade and investment and explore new cooperation on skills development and public health. During his visit to Gauteng in 2015, Hesse’s Minister President, Volker Bouffier invited Premier Makhura to visit his region to explore new opportunities for trade and investment.

Premier Makhura and his delegation will spend three days in Frankfurt where they will hold meetings with potential investors, business, higher learning institutions and innovation and research institutes. On 20-24 April Premier Makhura and his delegation will visit the United Kingdom, at the invitation of the Lord Mayor of London, where they will explore cooperation on a range of areas, including skills development, youth entrepreneurship and public health.

MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu and MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile are accompanying the Premier on these visits. Europe, and in particular Germany and the United Kingdom, remain the biggest trade and investment partners for South Africa. Most of the European companies which operate in South Africa are located in Gauteng and therefore, boast a considerable strategic footprint in the province. While the Premier is away MEC for Finance and e-Government, Barbara Creecy will be acting Premier. Premier Makhura returns on 25 April.

Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government