Top-level meeting between the new SA Ambassador and Awex’ CEO30/05/2021
A virtual courtesy meeting took place on 28 April 2021 between the newly appointed South African Ambassador to Brussels, HE Madame Tokozile Xasa, and the CEO of the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX), Ms Pascale Delcomminette.
The meeting took place in the presence of Mr. Dominique Delattre, Director for Africa and Middle East at the AWEX head office, and Mr. Jean-Pierre Muller, Head of the AWEX office in Johannesburg. Ms Julie Tirtiaux, Trade Advisor at AWEX Johannesburg and Ms Sewela Nkgapele, Political Counsellor at the SA Embassy in Brussels, also participated in the call.
Ms Delcomminette welcomed Ms Xasa to Belgium and underlined the friendly and dynamic relations between the South African Embassy and the AWEX, which culminated in 2015 when AWEX selected South Africa as the priority market for its 2015 action programme. No less than six actions targeting the South African market were organised by AWEX that year, including an economic mission to SA and several trade show participations in the country. The programme also led to the signing of an MOU between AWEX and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aiming at enhancing reciprocal Foreign Direct Investment attraction. Several Wallonian companies have important activities in South Africa, such as Magotteaux, Schreder and Vinventions. Likewise some major South African companies are active in Wallonia, such as Bidfood, Dimension Data, Sappi and Mondi.
Ms Xasa thanked Ms Delcomminette for her warm welcome. She paid tribute to the R1.5 billion of Belgium investment pledged collectively by the members of the Belgian Chamber of Commerce for South Africa (BCCSA) on the occasion of the third Investment Conference hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg in November 2020 and encouraged future trade missions of AWEX to South Africa. She then discussed about South Africa’s Economic Recovery Plan which supports growing sectors of the economy (i.e., agriculture, technology and transport). On a more personal touch, Ms Xasa highlighted the importance to empower women in high profile positions.
Madame Xasa arrived in Brussels in December 2020 and presented her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Philippe on 2 February 2021. Prior to her designation in Brussels, she served as South African Minister for National Department of Tourism, from March 2017 until February 2018, and as Minister for Sport and Recreation, from February 2018 until May 2019.