“Let me confirm that the economy is the apex priority of our country over the next five years. We must put all our efforts into promoting a positive environment for economic growth and development if we are to break the back of poverty, unemployment and inequality.”

President Zuma went on to unpack exactly what he meant,
“Given that the economy is an apex priority, it follows that our Heads of Mission should prepare themselves for vigorous marketing and trade promotion over the next five years. We want to open more opportunities abroad for our goods and services and also want to attract more investments towards our country in the next five years.”

During her State Visit to South Africa, President Bachelet expressed almost the same sentiments,
“We can and should take advantage of all the possibilities offered by our economies to complement each other.”

On several occasions over the past 2 years representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI) have visited Chile to explore opportunities for further expansion of South African exports to Chile and potential Chilean investments into South Africa. A key highlight was the successful selling mission from South Africa to Chile during the second half of 2014. We have also created momentum for increased political consultations (for example, President Zuma’s planned visit to Chile) and economic consultations (an example of which is the planned selling mission for November 2015). I am pleased to be here in Chile to co-chair the Joint Consultative Mechanism which is part of the process of deepening political ties and consequently paving the way for deeper economic co-operation.

Source: The Department of International Relations and Cooperation / Luwellyn Landers
Available: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2015/land0305.htm