The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024, which took place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from 15 to 19 January 2024, provided South Africa an opportunity to engage international investors and policy-makers.
I was accompanied by the Acting DDG Invest SA and two DTIC permanent representatives to Geneva. The department’s appropriated budget covered all expenses.
The engagements and activities included
- More than 15 separate sessions with investors in sectors such as beverages, transport-logistics, energy, steel, engineering and retail.
- Meetings with a number of trade and economic ministers from across the world, including Norway, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Netherlands and Oman and with government advisors from Nigeria
- A meeting with the European Union Vice President and Trade Commissioner on SA-EU trade matters and on the WTO
- A session with a US Senator, covering SA-US trade and investment relations
- Participating as a speaker in panels dealing with development and with SMME promotion in value-chains
- A ‘South Africa Investment’ session hosted by Bloomberg
- Separate meetings with the Director General of the WTO and with the Secretary General of the AfCFTA
- Participation in a number of briefing sessions on global policy matters, including by the Premier of China and the US Secretary of State
- A WTO session attended by officials.
I am advised the total cost was R802 000, made up of accommodation, air travel, and ground transportation, food, subsistence and travel costs.
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