In line with his commitment to set in place a Modern, Growing and Successful Province with technology, digitalization and industrialization centre to this vision, the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, this past Friday, 25 October 2019, led a delegation of MECs and senior government officials to Cape Town in the Western Cape. The visit was two-fold in its intent with the first engagement with the United States Consul General, Ms Virginia Blaser and her consulate team. The purpose hereof to engage in discussions around US interests in the Northern Cape and more specifically to explore areas of cooperation around education, health, exchange programmes, digitalisation of libraries and economic development.
The delegation was unanimous in their assertion that there are various opportunities that warrant further engagement. Premier Saul committed that in order to build on the relationship and develop a more structured approach, the US Consul and her team will be invited to the launch of the reviewed Provincial, Growth and Development Strategy and Investment Booklet. Investment and economic opportunities that will benefit the people of the Northern Cape will also be on the agenda for the proposed visit.
Following this meeting, Dr Saul accompanied by the MEC for Health, Ms Mase Manopole and MEC for Education, Mr Maccollen Jack and senior officials, was taken through a tour of the Tygerberg Tertiary Hospital by the MEC for Health in the Western Cape, Ms Nomafrench Mbombo. The aim of this visit was to study and benchmark digitalisation in their Emergency Medical Services and patient filing system in order to render a more efficient service in the Health sector. Similar digitalisation programmes also need to be rolled out in the Education sector, “To make education work better for our children”, said the Premier.
The delegation was thereafter received by the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Alan Winde, to look at areas of further mutual collaboration that will be formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Provinces. The two Premiers resolved on the establishment of a technical team that will indicate the parameters of the collaboration.
Dr Saul thanked Mr Winde and his team for the productive day spent with the Western Cape Government and that going forward there needs to be more engagements such as these because the two Provinces stand to learn a lot more from one another other. “As a Province we are interested in a bouquet of services to modernise our Province as well as grow the economy. For this reason we will seek out partnerships with all sectors to set in motion plans that will improve the lives of the people of the Province”, stated the Premier as he concluded the discussions of the day.
Going forward the Province will immediately start work to consolidate our approach by conducting a status quo analysis and defining our position in terms of the partnership agreement to be developed with the Western Cape Government.
Released by the Office of the Premier
Enquiries: Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, Spokesperson to the Premier,
083 447 6586, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." ' + path + '\'' + prefix + ':' + addy11368 + '\'>'+addy_text11368+'<\/a>';
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