Ljubljana, January 14, 2025 – Last night, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, based in Vienna and accredited to Slovenia and Slovakia, Rapulane Molekane, hosted guests for the reopening of the South African Consulate in Ljubljana. The Honorary Consul is Nevenka Črešnar Pergar. The economic opportunities and shared values of both countries were vividly highlighted by Matevž Frangež, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.
The relations between Slovenia and South Africa have traditionally been good. Much of this is attributed to the businessman and former Honorary Consul Janez Pergar, who carried out his mission for more than 20 years. After he died in 2023, there was no consular service in Ljubljana.
The new Honorary Consul, Nevenka Črešnar Pergar, is well known and established in the business world, both domestically and abroad, with extensive experience serving on the supervisory boards of domestic and foreign companies, as a lawyer, and in significant positions in the public sector. She is particularly distinguished by her ability to connect people. The process of appointing honorary consuls is lengthy, lasting more than six months, and is very similar to the appointment of ambassadors. There were also several candidates for the position of Honorary Consul of South Africa.
Črešnar Pergar is an excellent expert on the Republic of South Africa, its economy, tourism capabilities, offerings, and opportunities, as well as its culture and art. In her inaugural speech, both she and Ambassador Molekane emphasized the key connections between the two countries. It is noteworthy that South Africa is the most developed African country. Trade between the two countries reached 81 million EUR in 2023, making South Africa the 60th most important trade partner of Slovenia in goods exchange. By November 2024, this trade amounted to 71 million euros. Opportunities are opening in the automotive industry, as South Africa is the largest vehicle producer on the African continent. A significant portion of the trade has long relied on the pharmaceutical industry, machinery, and mechanical equipment (together nearly 40% of trade), followed by the rubber industry, electrical machinery, optical, photographic, and other fine mechanical products, as well as paper, cardboard, and related products.
State Secretary Matevž Frangež informed Ambassador Molekane that the most suitable person had been chosen as Honorary Consul and emphasized the professional competencies and personal qualities of Črešnar Pergar. He also highlighted the similarities and diversity between the two countries, and the three natural values that unite us: water, peace, and bees. The new Honorary Consul of South Africa assured that she would strive intensively for good bilateral relations and dynamic mutual business cooperation. The event was attended by around 150 guests, including diplomats, businesspeople, and public sector representatives.
