The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, has successfully completed his visit to Bali, Indonesia. He participated in the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) from 1-3 September 2024. The events were held under the theme, Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The objectives of the Second IAF included:
- Facilitating the exchange of views and perspectives on the global economy and development
- Sharing successes, lessons learned, and best practices to inspire others
- Discussing ways to enhance international cooperation in the face of global challenges
- Identifying feasible policies and strategies
- Encouraging collaborative problem-solving and leveraging resources
Deputy Minister Botes presented South Africa’s intervention at the Joint Leaders Session during the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF). He emphasized South Africa’s commitment to the full implementation of the AfCFTA and highlighted the importance of economic integration in Africa.
Reflecting on the current state of multilateral cooperation, Deputy Minister Botes expressed commitment to the Pan-African mantra and deepening solidarity with the Global South, including Indonesia.
He also met with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Mr Pahala Nugraha Mansury, to discuss expanding political and economic relations between South Africa and Indonesia.
To wrap up his visit, Deputy Minister Botes participated in a panel discussion on Connecting the South: Enhancing Logistics Connectivity to Support Trade in Developing Countries. The discussion focused on improving trade connectivity in the Global South and the effectiveness of international cooperation in addressing infrastructure development gaps.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.