Embassy of Denmark in South Africa

I dag holder H.M. Kongen sin første nytårstale.   Nogle af dem, der følger med, er de ansatte på Danmarks mange repræsentationer rundt omkring i verden.   Det er en gammel tradition, at alle danske repræsentationer har et billede af Danmarks regent hængende, og i løbet af året er portrætterne af H.M. Dronning Margrethe 2. blevet udskiftet med de nye, officielle portrætter af Kongeparret.   Den første danske repræsentation, der træder ind i det nye år, er ambassaden i Canberra og 19 timer senere følger generalkonsulatet i Silicon Valley som de sidste.   Godt nytår fra hele Udenrigstjenesten 🎊

🇺🇳So excited to have entered the UN Security Council on 1 January 2025. As an elected member, Denmark 🇩🇰 will stand up for international rule of law and work constructively with other members to ensure the Council delivers on its vital mandate. Now, more than ever, the world needs a UNSC that responds to the concerns of people around the world. We stand ready to do our part. #UNSC #DKinUNSC #peaceandsecurity 📸: UN/Evan Schneider

Congratulations to Danish companies, Mulilo / Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners selected as Preferred Bidders under South Africa's Bid Window 7! 🪟 Today, South Africa's Minister of Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, hosted the final Energy Action Plan media briefing of 2024 📜 The Minister reflected on the year’s key achievements and challenges in the energy sector and announced the Preferred Bidders for REIPPPP Bid Window 7 and BESIPPPP Bid Window 2. Congratulations to Mulilo/ CIP who won: 🔋5x battery projects (384 MW of 615 MW) 🌞1x solar park 240 MWac / 336 MWdc (capacity) These projects not only contribute to South Africa's green energy transition but also bring significant benefits to businesses, local communities, and the environment. The strong presence of Danish companies shines light to the value of partnerships between the two countries and Denmark's commitment to supporting South Africa’s socio-economic priorities through renewable energy💡♻️ We look forward to following these projects come to life in South Africa! 🇩🇰🤝🇿🇦 #reippppbw7 #besippppbw2 #ippprogramme #ippoffice #electricityandenergy

🎄We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas from all of us at the Embassy. To get into the festive spirit, we brought a slice of Denmark to South Africa with our annual Christmas lunch! 🍽️🇩🇰 Our Danish colleagues showcased their culinary skills by preparing traditional Danish Christmas dishes – from pickled herring and rye bread to Risalamande🐟🍧 Of course, no Danish Christmas is complete without ‘pakkeleg’. The gift-stealing dice game brought plenty of laughter, surprises, and a little bit of chaos – as it always does! 🎁🎲 Wishing you a joyous holiday season as the Embassy officially closes from December 23rd to January 2nd. #DenmarkinSouthAfrica

🤩We’re happy to introduce Simone Smit as our new colleague at the Embassy, in the role as Sustainable Value Chains Advisor in the Trade Council🌱🔗 With her background and passion for creating meaningful impact in leadership roles as Head of Acquisitions and Head of Marketing, Simone is an exciting addition to our embassy. Simone’s educational journey includes a degree in Business Management from the University of South Africa, and she is currently pursuing Climate Mitigation studies at the University of Cape Town📚 In her new role at the Embassy, Simone will focus on fostering sustainable trade initiatives, building value chains that benefit both South Africa and Denmark🇿🇦🇩🇰 Simone shared: "I have always found it interesting to attempt things that are one step beyond where I am, in life and in my career. It feels like living on the edge of my own ability, knowledge, or network. I keep reaching – even if it is just a little at a time – to take on opportunities and challenges that are meaningful and impactful. What a privilege it is to connect South Africa all the way to Denmark! I am taken aback by the amazing work done in the Trade Department – for South Africa, for Denmark, and for the future of our planet. I look forward to being part of this vehicle of positive change." Please join us in officially welcoming Simone to the Embassy! 🎉

Real impact in Nomzamo Agricultural Village, Mpumalanga 🇿🇦 empowering communities with sustainable energy ☀️ Thanks to the support of GreenCape’s Alternative Service Delivery Unit (ASDU), the Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC), the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa, the New Zealand High Commission Pretoria, South Africa, Peco Power and the French Embassy, the Nomzamo Agricultural Village is experiencing transformative change through a solar-powered off-grid energy solution 🌱 This initiative has had a direct, life-changing impact: 300 households now have access to electricity through solar-powered power bricks, and 20 public spaces are illuminated with solar street lights. This new access to energy is not just about lighting homes – it’s opening doors for the community. With reliable electricity, people can now apply for jobs, run small businesses, and support their families in ways that were previously impossible. Beyond energy, the project has created local jobs, trained community members in critical skills, and established savings schemes to support economic growth. It has also fostered sustainable practices, with urban farming training helping the community grow and sell fresh produce, now even stocked in major grocery stores. This initiative is a clear example of how sustainable solutions, powered by collaboration, can bring about real, tangible change. Check out the video to learn more! 🔍 #Sustainability #ForOurPlanet #GreenTransition EU Environment and Climate Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères European External Action Service Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency Bigger Than Me Agence Française de Développement in Southern Africa Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone Philip Hewitt David Martinon Cecelia Kok Martin Deramond

EVENT REMINDER: The last Turbine Talks of the year is almost here, and you don’t want to miss it! 🚨 📅 Date: 11 December 2024 ⏰ Time: 10:00am - 13:00pm 📍JOHANNESBURG: ENS Africa Johannesburg, The MARC | Tower 1, 129 Rivonia Road, Sandton 📍CAPE TOWN: ENS Africa Cape Town, 35 Lower Long St, Foreshore, Cape Town RSVP NOW: https://lnkd.in/diXQMAwH Sponsored by: Embassy of Denmark in South Africa In collaboration with: RE.Connect Let's mingle! 🎉 #sawea #windindustry #turbinetalks #reconnect

Women in business 👊 🎈✨ Last week, the Tshwane Women in Business Awards 2024 highlighted the pivotal role women play in driving economic growth in the City of Tshwane. Our Ambassador, Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone, was honored to speak about Denmark’s support for the initiative, given the longstanding collaboration between the City of Aarhus and Tshwane, particularly in water management 💧 We were proud to attend and support this important celebration at #TWIBA. As Lardo Stander (PhD), CEO of Tshwane Economic Development Agency, put it: “By supporting these entrepreneurs, we are investing in the future of Tshwane and ensuring that their contributions are acknowledged and celebrated.” The Awards recognize the indispensable contributions of female entrepreneurs in igniting the local economy and aim to link these trailblazers with support programs and opportunities from the City of Tshwane and other key players. 🎯 Notably, South Africa leads in gender diversity, with 42% of senior positions held by women compared to the global average of 33%. Denmark follows closely with 38%. Congratulations to all the remarkable women recognized at this year’s Awards! 🎉

How do you, as a Danish investor, navigate South Africa’s business landscape under the new coalition? 🤔   Recently, we hosted an Ambassador’s Executive Discussions (AED) meeting, focusing on the evolving business climate under the Government of National Unity (GNU) and its impact on foreign investment 🌍🧩   Key topics on the agenda included: 1️⃣ Insights into the current regulatory landscape, coalition policies, and the broader economic environment. 2️⃣ Post-election policy updates and their implications for growth through reforms and resource mobilization. 3️⃣ Progress on Phase 2 of the Government Business Partnership, aimed at supporting South Africa’s removal from the FATF grey list, with a focus on: ⚡ Energy 🚌 Transport and logistics ⚠️ Crime and corruption   We were pleased to welcome Martin Kingston, Executive Chairman of Rothschild & Co. and Chairperson of the Business Unity SA steering committee, as our guest speaker. His insights on regulatory developments and coalition policies, alongside reflections from recent engagements with Cabinet members and senior business leaders, provided valuable context for investors!   Thank you to Martin Kingston and all participating companies for a productive discussion on the current opportunities and challenges within South Africa’s business environment 🌱

Nomzamo Agricultural Village Implements Off-Grid Power Solution for Sustainable Development ⚡🌱 Thanks to the support of GreenCape’s Alternative Service Delivery Unit (ASDU), the Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC), the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa, the New Zealand High Commission Pretoria, South Africa, the French Embassy, and Peco Power, the Nomzamo Agricultural Village is experiencing transformative change through a solar-powered off-grid energy solution. Through a collaborative co-design process, the community identified key priorities: home-level electrification, skills development, and area lighting. In response, Peco Power, a South African company specializing in solar-powered, modular, and stackable power bricks, was appointed to deliver on these needs. Peco Power not only provided reliable home electricity systems and solar-powered street lighting, but also played a vital role in creating local jobs and fostering skills development. Four full-time installers and two full-time salespeople (Peco Champions) were trained and recruited, empowering local talent and contributing to the village's economic growth. This initiative demonstrates how off-grid energy solutions can drive sustainable development, improve livelihoods, and create new opportunities for communities. Check out the video to learn more! 🔍 #Sustainability #ForOurPlanet #GreenTransition EU Environment and Climate Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères European External Action Service Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency Bigger Than Me Agence Française de Développement in Southern Africa Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone Philip Hewitt David Martinon Cecelia Kok Martin Deramond