The Consul General of South Africa in Los Angeles, Babalwa Thandile Sunduza, visited Denver as part of a state outreach and was the guest of the mayor, councilor Michael Hancock. The mayor, who has visited South Africa in the past, was impressed with the opportunities for trade and investment, and the country’s electricity challenge was the first discussion point on the agenda. This included a discussion about renewable energy and wind turbines at the Kouga Project. The main purpose of the outreach was to explore a possible sister city agreement between Denver and a city in South Africa and the Consul General has recommended Kimberley in the Northern Cape. A lighter moment came when the Consul General spent some time trying to teach the mayor how to pronounce Gqeberha, the new name of Port Elizabeth, since Colorado has expressed interest in the economic development opportunities of the Eastern Cape. Cultural diplomacy was also on the agenda with discussions on student/cultural exchanges with universities in Gqeberha taking place. In addition, South African wines are in demand in Colorado and the door was opened for wine importers.
H-2A program in agricultural sector high on the agenda
A delegation of SA Chamber USA met with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Dr Rueben E. Brigety II, at the US Embassy in Pretoria. The meeting focused on a wide range of commerce topics, with a particular emphasis on promoting direct foreign investment from the US to South Africa through the H-2A program in the agricultural sector.
