counterpart
5 October 2007
Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will on
Monday, 8 October 2007, hold bilateral discussions on political, economic and
trade relations with her counterpart from the Flemish Regional Government in
Belgium, Minister for Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism
Geert Bourgeois at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
Minister Bourgeois will arrive in South Africa on Saturday, 6 October 2007,
and will visit Cape Town and Gauteng.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with her Flemish counterpart
within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate bilateral
political, trade and economic relations with Flanders with a view to
consolidate North-South relations.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and
Bourgeois at the Presidential Guesthouse on Monday, 8 October 2007 are expected
to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between
South Africa and Flanders,
* development co-operation, including possible trilateral co-operation
projects,
* a briefing on developments within SADC and the African Union,
* a briefing on political developments in Flanders and Belgium.
While in South Africa Minister Bourgeois will also hold discussions with
Ministers Martinus van Schalkwyk and Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.
Bilateral economic relations
According to South African statistics, Belgium is South Africa's 6th largest
trading partner and 8th fastest growing export destination. Of this, Flanders
accounts for more than 80% of bilateral economic activity.
Top priority sectors targeted for FDI promotion from Belgium to South Africa
are: chemicals, jewellery, steel, agro-processing and tourism
infrastructure.
Both parties recognise the strategic importance of the diamond sector in
their respective economies and the need to further strengthen co-operation in
this area.
Development co-operation
South Africa is considered a priority for Official Development Assistance
(ODA), being allocated a substantial portion of the overall ODA budget
available to the Flemish government. The Flemish government has gradually
assumed a leading role and has identified South Africa as a key foreign
partner, resulting in co-operation programmes in South Africa amounting to euro
25 million over a period of five years (euro 5 milllion annually). These
projects target mainly the social development sector in South Africa, i.e.
health, poverty alleviation and human resource development.
Over and above this, fifty (50) joint research projects have been launched
with Flanders, focusing primarily on improving the capacity of historically
disadvantaged institutions to carry and address skills shortage in Information
Communication Technology (ICT) and communicable diseases.
Assistance from Flanders to three (3) South African provinces
With the above in view, Flemish Development Co-operation focuses on the
three following provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Limpopo.
Programmes agreed upon by both governments are:
* KwaZulu Natal: food security and agricultural development,
* Free State: prevention of HIV/ AIDS and job creation,
* Limpopo: capacity building, creation of employment and increased income
through agriculture and agro-tourism.
The positive achievements in the above-mentioned areas were highlighted
during the last meeting of the South African / Flanders Joint Commission on 24
to 25 April 2007. Appreciation was expressed on behalf of the South African
government for the comprehensive support and assistance programme developed by
the Flemish Regional government in co-operation with the South African
government. These positive results are the fruit of the South African / Flemish
relationship which has matured over the last years on the basis of mutual
commitment, understanding and trust towards each other.
Apart form the areas of food security, youth, health and small, medium, and
micro enterprises (SMMEs) being most important for economic growth in
KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Limpopo, the increasingly huge challenge
faced in investment in human capital and other opportunities for co-operation
in Education, particularly in Maths and Science, skills development within the
framework of the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) as
well as HIV/AIDS were highlighted and could be explored further. It was
stressed that Africa remained the number one priority for South African Foreign
Policy, especially the Southern African Development Community (SADC) where
South Africa plays a critical role in the integration and streamlining of this
important Regional Economic Community (REC) as a building block of integration,
thus further possibilities and support to SADC would be welcomed as it would
contribute to sustainable economic growth and development.
Media programme for visit to South Africa by Flemish Minister for
Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism Geert Bourgeois
Monday, 8 October 2007
10h15: Arrival of media ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of
discussions between Foreign Ministers Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Geert
Bourgeois
Venue: Presidential Guesthouse, Bryntirion Estate, Church Street (Enter
through Gate 9), Pretoria
(Please RSVP)
(Please present press cards)
10h55: Arrival of Minister Bourgeois
Photo opportunity
Bilateral discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Bourgeois
Photo opportunity
11h15: Arrival of media ahead of joint press conference by Foreign Ministers
Dlamini Zuma and Bourgeois
Venue: Presidential Guesthouse, Bryntirion Estate, Church Street (Enter through
Gate 9), Pretoria
(Please RSVP)
(Please present press cards)
11h45: Joint press conference
For further information contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
5 October 2007
Source: SAPA
