South Africa concludes a “very successful” State Visit to Switzerland

South Africa concludes a “very successful” State Visit to Switzerland By Dikeledi Molobela Schloss Hauptwil, Switzerland – International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has described President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Switzerland as “a resounding success” that deepened political, economic, and developmental ties between the two nations. Speaking to SAnews in Schloss Hauptwil, a centuries-old castle nestled in the Thurgau region, Minister Lamola reflected on the significance of the visit. The elegant estate, known for its tranquil gardens and timeless architecture, provided a dignified and intimate setting for a lunch hosted by local authorities in honour of President Ramaphosa and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. Minister Lamola said the visit had marked a historic milestone in South Africa–Switzerland relations. “We have just concluded a very successful state visit to Switzerland the first between South Africa and Switzerland by a State President from South Africa. “The first one we had here was a working visit by our former President Mandela. But the Swiss have elevated this to a much higher pedestal to show and deepen our political and economic relationship,” he said. The Minister noted that discussions between the two countries covered a wide range of areas from peacebuilding and mediation to collaboration in multilateral platforms and trade. “They are very keen to work with us on peacebuilding initiatives, mediation, and also on our work in the continent and in various multilateral platforms. In terms of the economy, they have brought leading Swiss companies, some already active in South Africa, while others are exploring opportunities to invest. There is huge space for collaboration and investment by Swiss companies, with a clear intention to build manufacturing plants and to develop skills in South Africa,” the Minister said. Lamola highlighted that one of the most valuable lessons from the visit was Switzerland’s dual education system, a model that merges theoretical learning with practical experience. “The Swiss education system is a dual education system which enables young people, from the age of 15, to learn both theory and practice. They call it ‘where practice and theory meet.’ It is a very encouraging and stimulating system that produces highly skilled artisans from boiler makers to mechanics and other trades that every growing economy needs, including ours,” he explained. The Minister said the South African delegation which included the Ministers of Higher Education Buti Manamela, and Science and Technology, Blade Nzimande was inspired by the potential to adapt this approach to help tackle youth unemployment and boost industrial growth. “This visit has really inspired all of us, including our President. We will now move to implement this in our country, in collaboration with industries, to strengthen skills development and respond to our unemployment challenges. “It’s clear that we need a radical shift in how we skill our young people to integrate them early into economic life and ensure they contribute meaningfully to our society. This was a very good visit in that regard, because we will now move to implement and ensure that practice meets theory,” he said. The State Visit, which included engagements at the Vocational and Further Education Centre in Wil-Uzwil and the Bühler AG Manufacturing Facility, aimed to strengthen cooperation in education, trade, and industrial development marking a new era in the partnership between South Africa and Switzerland. – SAnews.gov.za DikelediM Thu, 10/30/2025 - 20:20 747 views

Read on the original site