President Ramaphosa begins Working Visit to the Republic of Rwanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, today, Tuesday 20 March 2018, where he is leading the South African delegation to the 10th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
 
The President will today pay a courtesy call on Rwandan President Paul Kagame, participate as a panellist in a business forum that forms part of the Summit programme and attend a welcome dinner hosted by President Kagame to honour visiting heads of state and government.
 
Tomorrow, President Ramaphosa will attend the opening ceremony of the Summit and will deliver a statement to the Summit in his capacity as Chair of the Southern African Development Community.
 
The theme of the AU for the year 2018, under which its Summits will be held, is: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”.
 
Over the past three days an Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council has deliberated on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal instruments and launch the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
 
The Summit is expected to consider and conclude issues related to the AfCFTA and adopt the Agreement on the Establishment of the AfCFTA.
 
South Africa is committed to the establishment of an AfCFTA that will boost intra-Africa trade in accordance with the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
 
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mr Gratitude Magwanishe.
  

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria