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This is why Africa

frica Down Under was the perfect sadors will be joining us and it is spon- do in Korea. And, similarly; we receive
Aplatform for Austrade to launch its sored by the Australian Africa Chamber more foreign direct investment from SA
Why Africa? seminar series. of Commerce. There will be a number than India or Indonesia,” Kamath said.
In a study conducted by The University of Austrade colleagues talking about the “Similarly on the trade side, we have
of Western Australia, the cultural literacy potential opportunities we see in front of a very strong trade relationship and it is
of Australians towards Africa and vice- us in the future between Australia and balanced and complementary. We ex-
versa was found to be low; a situation Africa. We can see the seminar series port particular commodities to SA – coal
Austrade’s Ian Halliday believes can be building over a number of years.” and aluminium – and South Africa’s prin-
rectified through events such as Africa Africa is not yet a priority for Australian ciple export to us is manufactured motor
Down Under and the Australia Africa organisations to do business, with China, vehicles. I think that is a complementary
Universities Network. South East Asia, India, Pacific Islands, relationship.”
“I think we all have a role to play in how US and Europe currently at the forefront The Australia-SA bond has firmed in
we raise the profile of Australian-African of overseas business. recent times, with the Square Kilome-
business relations and I applaud you However, during one of the sessions at tre Array (SKA) project awarded to both
[Dominic Piper] and Bill [Repard] for initi- Africa Down Under featuring an array of countries.
atives like Africa Down Under, which has Australian ambassadors/heads of mis- Australia and SA were in direct com-
now gone into Australia Africa Week,” sion and their African counterparts, Aus- petition to host the SKA project, which
Halliday said. tralian High Commissioner to South Af- entails building the world’s largest tel-
“Why Africa? follows the successful rica Gita Kamath highlighted a few facts escope to explore the universe.
MENA Connections Programme and is a that seemingly go unnoticed. In the end, an inter-government agen-
seminar series, which will start in Perth “People are always very surprised to cy decided the project was best jointly-
and roll out across every [Australian] hear, particularly on the investment side, hosted by Australia and SA, effectively
capital city over the next 10 days. A num- that Australia invests more in South Af- boosting collaboration in science and
ber of high commissioners and ambas- rica than in Indonesia and more than we technology between the two countries.

Australian-African diplomats out in full force at Africa Down Under. Front row (L-R): High Commissioner to South Africa Gita Kamath,
Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe HE Bronte Moules, High Commissioner for Zambia HE Frank Bwalya, High Commissioner for
Uganda HE Joyce Kikafunda, High Commissioner to HE Kenya Alison Chartres, High Commissioner to Madagascar HE Jenny Dee.
Back row (L-R): High Commissioner for South Africa HE Marthinus van Schalkwyk, High Commissioner for Kenya HE Isaiya Kabira and
Austrade general manager Middle East and Africa Ian Halliday

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT OCTOBeR 2019 Page 67