THE new Principal Officer at the US Consulate, Anne Linnee is keen to promote co-operation between the City of uMhlathuze and the US, to strengthen trade and investment. Much-needed support for the local healthcare sector is also on her agenda.

In her mission to better understand the province, Linnee met with uMhlathuze Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo in Richards Bay on Tuesday.

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She said she was impressed with the economic strides made by the city and the investment ambitions it has for local businesses and communities.

The key focus will initially be on technology, climate change and the resuscitation of existing agreements, while also forming new partnerships.

In an interview with the ZO, Linnee, who arrived in KZN in October, said she looked forward to her three-year term in the province.

She added she was confident with KZN’s approach to the Covid-19 pandemic and aims to lend a helping hand on behalf of the US in years to come.

Linnee said the USA has provided about R80-billion over 20 years to healthcare support in South Africa, with the prime focus being on the Aids and TB epidemics.

About R700-million has been donated to the KZN health sector in the last 12-18 months.

‘We have been able to develop programmes to train healthcare workers with a customer-centred approach to dealing with patients. We also assisted in providing around 1 000 ventilators and PPE in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.’

Before her posting to Durban, Linnee was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Her previous overseas tours included assignments in Cape Town, Islamabad, Lahore, Shanghai and Dubai.

She also served in Washington twice, most recently in the South and Central Asia Bureau’s joint executive office, and earlier in her career at the Foreign Service Institute as the Deputy Co-ordinator for Foreign Service Officer Orientation.

Her trip to Zululand included a visit to the University of Zululand and the Zululand Observer with a keen involvement in education and a family background in newspapers.

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