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Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s budget has been reduced by R153 Million and will be reduced further by R1,8 million over the next three years.
CAPE TOWN – DIRCO Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane says there’s a direct link between the expansion of South Africa’s missions abroad and lucrative trade and investment links with Africa and Asia.
Austerity measures agreed to by Cabinet mean the Dirco budget for this year has been cut by R153 million, and will be reduced by R1,8 billion over the next three years.
Nkoana-Mashabane’s told Parliament her department now faces the difficult choice of having to close some of its foreign missions and lose momentum on some of the gains made.
She says the expansion and strengthening of South Africa’s missions in Africa and Asia saw trade increase from tens of billions of rand to hundreds of billions of rands.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]