At the end of October, the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) attended a South Africa-Spain Business Forum held in Pretoria. This conference followed bilateral talks between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón at the Union Buildings that took place prior.
In preparation of the Business Forum, InvestSA, the Spanish Embassy and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce hosted a business discussion at the Spanish Ambassador’s residence in Waterkloof attended by business and industry representatives from both countries to discuss areas of mutual interest.
Industries represented at the meeting included pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, green energy and transport, as well as agriculture. CGA Chairperson Hannes De Waal attended the meeting and was requested to address delegates on behalf of these industries. He used the opportunity to highlight that there were numerous opportunities for Spain and South Africa to integrate their citrus industries further in light of these being opposite hemisphere suppliers of fruit.
However, to achieve this there needed to be greater cooperation between the two sectors. De Waal also further highlighted the many opportunities in the manufacturing, tourism, finance and energy space. He was humbled and privileged to have shared the same podium with both President Ramaphosa and Pérez-Castejón and minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel to promote the citrus industry.
To read his full speech delivered, click here.