Visit of Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles [MoS (PM)] to Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa
2. During his visit to Eswatini, MoS (PM) is scheduled to pay courtesy call on His Majesty King Mswati III and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini. He is expected to hold meeting with Foreign Minister of Eswatini to discuss matters of mutual interest and to review the progress of bilateral relations. The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade&investment, capacity building, development partnership and people-to-people exchanges. MoS (PM) will also engage with the Indian diaspora and participate in events highlighting India's development partnership initiatives in Eswatini. This visit is expected to further enhance the longstanding and friendly relations between India and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
3. In the Kingdom of Lesotho, MoS (PM) is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on His Majesty King Letsie III, and the Right Honourable Mr. Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Lesotho. MoS will also have bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is expected to meet the Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology&Innovation, the Minister of Education&Training, and the Minister of Labour and Employment in Maseru. This Ministerial visit to Kingdom of Lesotho is being undertaken after a gap of 10 years following the first-ever Ministerial visit from India to Lesotho by Hon'ble Minister of State (IC) Culture, Tourism&MoS for Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, on 9 July 2015 as Special Envoy of Hon'ble Prime Minister to deliver invitations for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit to the leadership of the Government of Lesotho.
4. In South Africa, MoS (PM) will lead a delegation to participate in the upcoming G-20 Development Ministerial Meetings (DMM) on 24-25 July 2025 in Skukuza, South Africa and is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the South African Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Hon'ble Ms. Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa and other Ministers responsible for Development and Heads of Delegations of other G20 Members, invited countries and International Organizations participating in the DMM.
5. MoS (PM) is also expected to have bilateral engagements and interactions with prominent leaders of businesses and members of the Indian community in Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
16 hours ago
- Zawya
Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG) and VUKA Group Forge Ahead with 3-Year Partnership for C&I Energy + Storage Summit
We are thrilled to share that the Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG) and VUKA Group ( are continuing their dynamic partnership to co-host the EIUG Conference and C&I Energy + Storage Summit ( for the next three years, building on the success of last year's inaugural event. This collaboration is a bold step toward shaping a sustainable and resilient energy future for South Africa's commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. Driving Sustainable Energy Solutions For over 25 years, EIUG has been a steadfast advocate for energy-intensive industries, championing competitive and sustainable energy frameworks. By partnering with VUKA Group for the C&I Energy + Storage Summit, we're creating a powerful platform to address the challenges and opportunities in South Africa's rapidly evolving electricity industry. This partnership aligns with the South Africa Climate Act and Just Energy Transition principles, empowering C&I power users to achieve energy independence, security, and sustainability while reducing their carbon footprint. C&I Energy + Storage Summit 2025, brough to you by VUKA Group, will take place from 4- 5 November 2025 at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Register today ( What to Expect at the Summit The C&I Energy + Storage Summit is your opportunity to engage with the future of energy. This year's event will: Explore scalable solutions: Dive into power generation options, credible technologies, and the financial and business cases for independent generation and storage. Navigate industry changes: Unpack the implications of South Africa's Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) initiatives, including the anticipated wholesale market establishment. Foster collaboration: Connect service providers, off-takers, and consumers for mutually beneficial commercial opportunities. Offer practical insights: Participate in technical masterclasses, project showcases, and networking sessions designed to equip you with the tools to lead in this transformative era. A Commitment to Change This partnership is more than a collaboration — it's a commitment to driving meaningful progress. By bringing together stakeholders from across the energy landscape, including Eskom, bilateral Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and potential players in a future wholesale energy trading market, we aim to influence a resilient, sustainable, and forward-thinking energy ecosystem. Join Us We invite all industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to join us at the C&I Energy + Storage Summit and EIUG Conference. Together, we can shape the future of South Africa's energy landscape and ensure it thrives for both businesses and the planet. Register for the Summit: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group. For speaking opportunities, contact Boipelo Mothlowa: For sponsorship enquires, contact Marcel du Toit: For media enquires, contact Natalie Simms: About VUKA Group: As part of the Power and Energy Portfolio of VUKA Group ( this Summit aligns with VUKA's mission to connect industries, spark innovation, and fuel economic growth. VUKA Group is a premier organiser of conferences, exhibitions, and events across Africa, delivering tailored platforms for networking, knowledge sharing, and business development in energy and related sectors.
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Zawya
International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades and Visa expand partnership to support women and youth entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa
The International Trade Centre's (ITC) SheTrades initiative and Visa announce a regional capacity building programme to support women and youth-led businesses in Kenya and South Africa, expanding their partnership into sub-Saharan Africa. Building on collaborations in the Gulf and Asia-Pacific regions, the programme will enhance the digital, financial and entrepreneurial capacities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) led by women and youth – two key groups driving innovation and inclusive growth across the continent. Entrepreneurs can register to join the programme here. Across sub-Saharan Africa, women are estimated to own close to 60% of MSMEs, while earning 38% less in profits. Structural barriers – such as limited access to finance, digital technologies and tailored business support – continue to impede their full participation in formal economies. Similarly, while the region's young demographic can be considered a strength, young entrepreneurs encounter challenges in accessing the skills, tools and networks required to build and scale their enterprises. According to the African Development Bank, narrowing gender and age-based disparities in labour markets and enterprises could boost economic output by as much as 34%, underscoring the potential positive impact of inclusive economic participation. To address these barriers, the programme offers a hybrid learning experience combining online and in-person capacity building tailored to the needs of women and youth-led MSMEs in the region, including on topics such as artificial intelligence for business, financial literacy, digital payments, investment readiness and broader entrepreneurial skills. At the core of the programme is Visa's She's Next, which provides women entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding and networking. By connecting programme participants with the She's Next alumni and the wider SheTrades community, the initiative will foster peer learning, sustained engagement and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. 'This partnership reflects our shared commitment to closing the digital and financial inclusion gap for African entrepreneurs,' said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton. 'We look forward to building on our partnership with Visa to enable long-term economic empowerment of women and youth, who, when fully engaged in trade, become powerful agents of change in their communities and countries.' The programme will be delivered in collaboration with a network of public and private partners, including the SheTrades Hubs in Kenya and South Africa, hosted by ABSA Bank Kenya and the Small Enterprise and Finance Development Agency (SEDFA), respectively. Microsoft Philanthropies will contribute AI-focused learning modules, which will be made available as UN public goods through the SheTrades Academy. 'At Visa, we believe that economies that include everyone, everywhere, uplift everyone, everywhere. Our expanded partnership with ITC SheTrades through the She's Next initiative is a testament to this belief,' said Michael Berner, Head of Visa Southern and Eastern Africa. 'By equipping women and youth entrepreneurs with the digital tools, financial knowledge, and networks they need to succeed, we are helping individual businesses thrive and contributing to the broader economic resilience and inclusive growth of the region. This initiative reflects Visa's ongoing commitment to driving equitable access to the digital economy and unlocking opportunities for underrepresented communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.' The programme was announced during the Global SME Ministerial Meeting, organised by ITC in collaboration with South Africa's Department of Small Business Development, where Visa contributed to discussions on financing solutions for sustainable small business growth. Upcoming webinars include: Kick-off&Microsoft AI Launch: 31 July Digital Tools&AI Integration: 28 August Budgeting&Financial Planning: 18 September Entrepreneurs can register to join the programme here. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Committee Welcomes Investigation into Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Abuse in Matjhabeng Municipality
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize, has welcomed an investigation into allegations that councillors and other politically connected individuals have been receiving inflated stipends under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State. This follows the committee's joint oversight visit to the Free State last week, where 23 municipalities appeared before the joint oversight delegation. The delegation also included some members from Parliament's Standing Committees on Public Accounts and the Auditor-General, as well as the Free State Provincial Legislature. Following the committee's interrogation of the state of Matjhabeng's finances, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dean Macpherson, announced his decision to suspend EPWP funding to Matjhabeng Local Municipality. The Chairperson said the committee has been aware of the allegations and supports a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder investigation, which combines the efforts of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Free State MECs for Finance and COGTA and the Office of the Premier of the Free State. He said during the oversight engagement with Matjhabeng municipality, the committee learned that while the irregular payments involve a limited number of individuals, the complete suspension of EPWP funding will affect hundreds of poor EPWP workers receiving R2 600 per month, many of whom are not implicated in any wrongdoing. The Chairperson has proposed that stipends be suspended only for the implicated individuals until the investigation is completed. He advised against cutting off funding to all EPWP workers, warning that most participants are vulnerable and depend on the small stipend to make ends meet. 'While any abuse of public funds must be met with swift and decisive action, it is critical that investigations are targeted and that innocent beneficiaries are not penalised,' the Chairperson said. 'We cannot allow the poor to suffer for the misdeeds of a few. Those found guilty must face disciplinary and criminal consequences, but the programme itself must continue to serve its intended purpose – to provide short-term work opportunities to the unemployed.' The Chairperson stated that although some of the allegations may be driven by politics or confusion about internal staffing, it's important for the process to be transparent and based on clear evidence and not hearsay. He further called for public participation and oversight at the municipal level to be strengthened, stating that communities must be engaged in the design and monitoring of public employment programmes. 'Mayors and municipal managers must regularly consult communities and account for their spending. Citizens must be given avenues to report concerns and submit evidence,' he said. The committee will request a consolidated report from the minister, the MECs and the Provincial Treasury within three months. The report must include updates on disciplinary action taken, financial recovery efforts and measures to prevent recurrence. The findings will be tabled in Parliament for further scrutiny. The Chairperson reiterated that the Matjhabeng case shows the need for constitutional oversight at all levels. 'If municipalities fail to perform, provinces must intervene. If provinces neglect their oversight duty, national government must act. That is how the Constitution envisages cooperative governance,' he said. Dr Mkhize said Matjhabeng provides a chance to set a national example. 'We must act firmly against corruption but fairly. Our fight is not against the EPWP, but against its abuse, and we have to protect the integrity of the system while safeguarding the rights of those it was designed to serve,' he said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
