South Africa and UAE seek cooperation on youth empowerment

South African Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called for enhanced cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support youth empowerment. During a bilateral meeting with UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, in Visakhapatnam, India, the discussions focused on skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and meaningful youth participation in development.

Minister Chikunga expressed interest in expanding bilateral collaboration through exchange programs and skills transfers, specifically noting the importance of including young persons with disabilities. She outlined South Africa’s policy frameworks, such as the National Development Plan 2030 and the National Youth Policy, which aim to reduce poverty and inequality by enhancing the capabilities of young people to become contributing members of society.