President Jacob Zuma will host the 5th India Brazil South Africa (IBSA) Heads of State and Government Dialogue Forum from 17 to 18 October 2011 in Pretoria.
IBSA was launched in 2003 after it was felt that the North’s continuous economic and political dominance on a global level impels the South to create a counter point that could be utilised to address the developmental needs unique to the South and developing countries.
IBSA promotes South-South Dialogue and fosters inter-regional cooperation. Joint positions on global issues are coordinated and enhanced in order to influence the international discourse on key development issues affecting the South and developing countries. Cooperation takes place in a broad range of areas that would lead to technology and skills transfer, socio-economic upliftment, job opportunities and infrastructural development.
IBSA endeavours to combine the collective strengths and qualities of the three IBSA countries from three different continents into a unique model of multilateralism.
This trilateral alliance stems from three commonalities between the countries, namely, all three are vibrant democracies; they share common views on various global issues; and they are substantial emerging economies within their sub-regions.
The engagement processes take place on three levels; namely:
- Heads of State and Government level (global political and multilateral issues);
- Trilateral Government-to-Government level (sectoral cooperation); and
- People-to-People cooperation (non-governmental)
Prior to the government-to-government meeting of the, approximately 17 civil society (people-to-people) working groups will hold meetings in preparation for the 18th October summit.
These people-to-people working groups will make presentations to the Heads of State highlighting key recommendations on several areas of co-operation, which include social inclusion and equality, promotion of food security, health, social assistance, employment, education, human rights and environmental sustainability).
Since its launch in 2003, the IBSA Dialogue Forum has made significant progress in the consolidation of co-operation amongst the three countries. The success of the IBSA Dialogue Forum in offering an alternative development co-operation paradigm, with its valuable South-South credentials, has become of increasing interest to other countries and organisations who have expressed a wish to establish dialogue with IBSA on specific issues. The IBSA outreach initiative for dialogue partner status on identified issues is part of the ongoing discussions under the auspices of the IBSA Ministerial Trilateral Commission.
NB: Media accreditation will be open at the Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria, from Sunday, 16 October 2011.
Members of the media that have not yet sent their RSVPs are urged to do so immediately.
To RSVP, kindly send your name, ID/passport number to Curtis Singo on 072 625 7060 or singoc@dirco.gov.za and Matshepo Seedat on 082 679 9473 or matshepo@po.gov.za.
Media programme for the Summit will be issued on Sunday, 16 October 2011.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO
Cell: 082 884 5974
