Ambassador of South Africa: “I will leave Kuwait with beautiful memories, what a beautiful country and its people are nice and friendly”

The Ambassador of South Africa to Kuwait, H.E. Dr. Manelisi Genge, expressed his gratitude to the leadership, government, and people of Kuwait, particularly the Department of African Affairs, the Department of Legal Affairs, and the Department of Human Rights Affairs at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for their support and cooperation during his tenure in Kuwait.

In his speech at the farewell ceremony hosted by the Chairman of Gulf Cryo and Director of the Contemporary Art Platform, Amer Henidi, in his honor, Ambassador Dr. Manelisi Genge expressed his appreciation for the support the embassy received from Kuwait’s business community, local media, and tourism sector companies. He acknowledged that their contributions played a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and Kuwait.

Regarding trade and tourism, the Ambassador explained that the trade volume between South Africa and Kuwait had seen a significant increase. He also noted a marked rise in the number of Kuwaiti tourists visiting South Africa, particularly during the summer of this year.

The Ambassador stated that the import of food products from South Africa by some companies in Kuwait has contributed to achieving the Kuwaiti government’s goal of food security.

Furthermore, the Ambassador pointed out that he would be leaving Kuwait after having contributed to the establishment of a strong legal framework for diplomatic relations between South Africa and Kuwait.

This was achieved through the signing of the Joint Cooperation Committee agreement and the entry into force of the amended protocol to the agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the State of Kuwait, aimed at avoiding double taxation and preventing financial evasion with regard to taxes.

Additionally, several draft agreements and memorandums of understanding have been successfully negotiated and are now ready for signature.

The Ambassador stated that the visit of the Minister of International Relations and South African Cooperation to Kuwait in 2021, was an important milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries at the political level.

To conclude, the Ambassador categorically highlighted and shared “I will be wiser to leave Kuwait thanks to my interaction with you, dear colleagues, friends, and the officials of the host country. I am deeply grateful for your continued support to the South African Embassy and to my successor. I wish you all the best in your current and future endeavors. I will leave Kuwait with beautiful memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. What a beautiful country, and its people are both kind and friendly.”