Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris has approved the appointment by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa of Mr. Jonathan Jacobs as Sri Lanka’s first Honorary Consul for Cape Town with the responsibilities covering the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Situated 1460 km from the capital Pretoria, Cape Town is the seat of South Africa’s parliament and its second largest city. It is also South Africa’s most picturesque city and attracts 1.2Mn tourists per annum. Whilst business linkages with Sri Lanka have already been established on account of a Sri Lankan company providing port management services for the port; more connections have emerged in recent months on account of an EDB SAITEX fair delegation visit in July, a Sri Lankan software delegation in October, a parliamentary delegation visit in November and a Ceylon Chamber visit in the same month. There are also plans to obtain the expertise of the city to assist Colombo’s waterfront development and urban layout.
Cape Town is also the headquarters of the ANC Progressive Business Forum (ANC PBF) which sent a 30 company delegation to Sri Lanka in September. This visit has laid the foundation for a variety of commercial linkages and further visits of the ANC PBF are planned in coming years.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner in South Africa Shehan Ratnavale presented on 11/12/2012 the commission letter appointing Mr Jecobs as Honorary Consul in Cape Town. It is envisaged that Mr. Jacobs a businessman, enterprise developer and a chairman International Trade and Tourism of the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce, will assist the Pretoria High Commission develop a variety of links with the city and provinces under his purview.
Accordingly Sri Lankan exporters and chambers that wish to enhance, links with Cape Town may contact Mr. Jacobs at the new Honorary Consulate based on the 5th floor, Cape Chamber House, 19 Louis Gradner Street, Forcshore, Cape Town. Tel: +27 21 839 2923/21, Fax +27 086 267 0526, Email: jonathanj@tep.co.za or alternatively through the Sri Lankan High Commission in Pretoria South Africa.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Pretoria
