UAE president pledged $10bn to EC, Motsoaledi confirms
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told MPs that United Arab Emirates President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pledged $10 billion in investment for the Eastern Cape.
According to Motsoaledi, the promise was made in 2018 during President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the UAE.
Motsoaledi appeared before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on Friday to account for bin Zayed Al Nahyan's controversial landing.
The president landed in the Eastern Cape last month to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, accompanied by more than 500 members of his family.
Motsoaledi said the investment benefit for the Eastern Cape province was also a consideration during the visit.
Motsoaledi said the $10 billion will be invested in energy, oil, economic infrastructure, tourism and agriculture in the province.
According to Motsoaledi, a few days before the UAE president arrived, the minister of economic development of the UAE also came to South Africa.
“He met with several ministers, among them the minister of trade and industry Ebrahim Patel, the minister of energy Gwede Mantashe, and minister of forestry and fisheries Barbara Creecy. Those ministers were met about the issues of investment," said Motsoaledi.
He added: "I also do know that during the investment summit of the president, the ambassador of South Africa to the UAE Saa’d Cachalia came to that investment summit.
"He did ask for a meeting with me to brief me about the issues of investment in the Eastern Cape, and exactly why it is so important for the country.
"You are aware that part of the work of ambassadors is to mobilise and encourage countries to come to countries where ambassadors come from. That is what I know and perhaps the committee would like to invest that further to get more details."
ALSO READ
