Ramaphosa leads his first UN delegation

President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to New York today to lead a South African delegation at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, his office said.

In his first participation at the assembly as head of state, Ramaphosa will take part in an annual general debate as world leaders discuss global issues.

In his inaugural address to the UN, he will outline South Africa’s domestic and foreign policy goals and priorities, including its land reform programme.

“While in New York, President Ramaphosa will meet chief executives of major global companies as part of the drive to attract foreign direct investment,” his office said.

The meetings will form part of the build-up to South Africa’s International Investment Conference on October 26 and 27, with a focus on bringing $100 billion of investment into the South African economy over the next five years.

The UN debate will be preceded by the unveiling of a statue of former South African president Nelson Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit.

“The summit will be an opportunity for heads of state and government to commit global support towards ending conflict in the world and on the African continent in particular, in line with the African Union’s aspirations of ‘silencing the guns by 2020’,” said the Presidency. – ANA