French President François Hollande will make a State visit to South Africa during the second half of October. This has been revealed by the new French Ambassador to South Africa, Elisabeth Barbier.

In her address on Friday at the French Embassy function to mark Bastille Day, she noted that the strategic dialogue between the two countries is, in the view of Paris, “particularly important as we acknowledge South Africa as a driving force in Africa, as well as a global player, as shown by the hosting of the Brics [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] summit in Durban last March.”

Barbier highlighted that, since 1994, the French Development Agency had made grants and soft loans worth €1.8-billion to South Africa, including more than €1-billion for the period from 2011 to 2014. “France prides itself on being one of South Africa’s solid partners in development, and is eager to support even more your country’s programmes towards sustainable growth and the reduction of inequalities.”

She pointed out that almost 300 French companies were present in South Africa, employing some 25 000 South Africans. French investments represented some 1% of South Africa’s gross domestic product. “Our Trade Commission, UbiFrance, is very active and can testify to the sustained interest shown towards South Africa among French business people.”

Barbier recalled last year’s French season in South Africa. This involved “close to one hundred events which took place between June and November last year, .... In the framework of this French season, we also had two Ministerial visits, as well as a high level visit of French business leaders.”

This year is marked by the South African season in France, which started last month. This will involve more than 150 events in more than 100 French cities and towns and will also highlight South African science and technology and the economy, as well as the arts, culture and sport.

At the multilateral level, she referred to “ ... the South Africa-EU [European Union] summit will take place [later this week], showing the importance the EU as a whole gives to its strategic relationship with your country.”

Ambassador Barbier also stated “as we all know that Madiba’s [former President Nelson Mandela’s] health is casting a shadow on our celebration, let me say that our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family”.