International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in Dakar, the Republic of Senegal, on Monday, 30 September 2013, ahead of a State Visit by H.E President Jacob Zuma, scheduled for 1 to 2 October 2013.
The State visit will be preceded by the second session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and the Ministerial Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), scheduled for 30 September 2013.
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will co-chair the second Session of the JCBC with her Senegalese counterpart, H.E Mr Mankeur Ndiaye, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad.
The Ministerial JCBC is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and further cooperation in the field of security (defence capacity building); arts and culture; trade and economic development; energy; environment; mining and mineral beneficiation; agriculture; water purification; and employment (job creation).
The Ministers will also utilise the JCBC to discuss multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
South Africa and Senegal enjoy warm relations, which were established with the inauguration in Pretoria of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in 2008. The JCBC meeting has resulted in bilateral Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in the following areas: The Promotion of Investments, as well as Cooperation in the fields of Civil Aviation, Health, Technology and Defence.
The signing of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Arts and Culture and the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture during the forthcoming State Visit, will further strengthen the ties of friendship between the two countries.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO
Cell: 082 884 5974
