Naujienos

Numerous and influential South African Litvak community builds up to 80,000 members which makes around 90 percent of all South African Jewish community demonstrates its active involvement in restoring ties with Lithuania.

Lithuanian Jews arrived to South Africa almost a century ago and successfully established themselves in the local business, art and other areas. The companies founded and led by local Litvaks operate on the scale of South African and global economic leadership.

On 30 March 2014 annual South African Litvak event “Miracle Drive” was held in Johannesburg. It was attended by nearly 2000 most influential South African Litvaks. Huge part of the attention during the event was focused on Lithuania.

A keynote guest speaker of the “Miracle Drive” Ambassador to Israel and South Africa D. Degutis focused on Lithuania’s efforts in the development of the cooperation with South African Litvak community. Ambassador D. Degutis presented in details Lithuanian Government’s accomplishments and future plans in preserving the unique Lithuanian Jewish community’s historic and cultural heritage, in remembering and commemorating those perished in the Holocaust and in implementing educational programs on the Holocaust. Ambassador D. Degutis emphasized that these activities are being accomplished in order to educate the young Lithuanian generation.

During the visit, Ambassador D. Degutis met with the executives of the fifteen largest South African companies led by the representatives of the Litvak community. Lithuanian economic development, ongoing strategic projects and attractive investment climate were discussed at the meeting. In addition, Ambassador D. Degutis invited South African entrepreneurs to come to Lithuania for a business mission.

Ambassador D. Degutis visited Cape Town, where the second largest (after Johannesburg) South African Litvak community is living and met with its representatives. During the stay in Cape Town a meeting with Mr. Alan Winde, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism of the West Cape Government was held. Various opportunities of the development of economic cooperation between the countries as well as possible joint projects in the field of the high technology were discussed during the meeting.

During the visit to Cape Town Ambassador D. Degutis discussed possibilities of establishing Lithuanian Honorary Consulate in Cape Town.

An article about annual South African Litvak event “Miracle Drive” published in "South African Jewish Report" on 4 April 2014 might be found here. (604.8 kb)