President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Kagili, Rwanda, where he is leading a 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.
According to the Presidency, President Ramaphosa will attend the opening ceremony of the summit tomorrow and 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,” the Presidency said.
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, Lindiwe Sisulu, and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Gratitude Magwanishe. – SAnews.gov.za
