Ukraine preparing for trade mission to South Africa

Ambassador of Ukraine to South Africa Liubov Abravitova made a corresponding announcement during the panel discussion entitled "New Partnership in Times of Pandemic" organized by the Ukrainian Prism Foreign Policy Council on April 2, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

As the diplomat noted, South Africa is a member of G20 and the second largest economy on the African continent, while the country remains a "blind spot" in Ukraine's foreign policy. In particular, no high-level visit to South Africa had taken place so far, and the last visit of the foreign minister had been made in 2001.

At the same time, the ambassador of Ukraine to South Africa added that African countries would be interested in political dialogue only through the prism of economic cooperation. Therefore, the Ukrainian Embassy in South Africa is doing everything possible to encourage the African partners to start a dialogue, she noted.

"We are actively preparing for the Ukrainian Trade Mission led by Trade Representative of Ukraine Kachka which will take place in April. Sectoral meetings were held with the participation of business representatives of both countries, contacts of various intergovernmental commissions were established and updated. In the parliamentary dimension, we created a group of parliamentarians responsible for cooperation with South Africa," Abravitova said.

According to the Ukrainian Business and Trade Association, the Trade Mission of Ukraine to South Africa will take place on April 13-18, 2021.

ol