Switzerland and South Africa enjoy close and broad relations. South Africa is a strategic partner of Switzerland and has long been one of its key economic partners on the African continent. Priority areas for collaboration at government level include economic cooperation, education, research and innovation.
South Africa is a lion economy, making it one of the African countries that harbour high economic potential, particularly in terms of investment and trade, and that are characterised by dynamic growth. It is one of Switzerland's priority countries for economic cooperation and development.
The first stage of the visit will focus on relations and economic cooperation with South Africa, and will take place in Pretoria and Johannesburg. The parliamentary delegation's programme includes talks at ministerial level, visits to SECO projects, and meetings with Swiss business and community representatives in South Africa.
The visit will continue in Cape Town, where Ms Herzog will hold official talks with members of both chambers of the South African parliament and with representatives of the province of the Western Cape. The delegation will also visit various SECO projects and will look in greater depth at the country's democratic development and recent history. A meeting with representatives of civil society is also on the agenda.
Ms Herzog will be accompanied on the visit by Second Vice President of the Council of States Stefan Engler (The Centre, GR), Council of States members Werner Salzmann (SVP, BE), Mathilde Crevoisier Crelier (SP, JU), Tiana Angelina Moser (glp, ZH) and Benjamin Mühlemann (FDP, GL), and by National Council member Sophie Michaud Gigon (The Greens, VD).