South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday, October 28, for talks with President Karin Keller-Sutter, focusing on trade expansion and cultural cooperation. The leaders will sign agreements on Wednesday covering arts, heritage, and peace mediation efforts. Switzerland ranks as South Africa's sixth-largest trading partner, with bilateral commerce reaching 159.5 billion rand, including gold transactions.
The visit includes the return of sacred artifacts from the Nkuna Royal Family that Swiss missionary Henri-Alexandre Junod acquired over a century ago. Ramaphosa will tour vocational training centers on Thursday, Oct. 30, to examine apprenticeship models for South African youth employment programs. Ministers accompanying the president oversee science innovation, higher education, and industrial development portfolios.
The Swiss trip follows state visits to Indonesia and Vietnam earlier in October, as Ramaphosa seeks new economic partnerships ahead of South Africa's presidency of the Group of 20, beginning later this year.
The visit includes the return of sacred artifacts from the Nkuna Royal Family that Swiss missionary Henri-Alexandre Junod acquired over a century ago. Ramaphosa will tour vocational training centers on Thursday, Oct. 30, to examine apprenticeship models for South African youth employment programs. Ministers accompanying the president oversee science innovation, higher education, and industrial development portfolios.
The Swiss trip follows state visits to Indonesia and Vietnam earlier in October, as Ramaphosa seeks new economic partnerships ahead of South Africa's presidency of the Group of 20, beginning later this year.
