counterpart Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney
17 March 2006
Tshwane - South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will host
her Irish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and
Children Mary Harney for bilateral political and economic discussions in Cape
Town on Saturday, 18 March 2006. Deputy Prime Minister Harney will pay an
official visit to South Africa from Thursday - Tuesday, 16 - 21 March 2006.
Discussions between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and her counterpart
Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney come within the context of South Africa's
commitment to strengthen relations with all countries of the North in the
interests of consolidating the developmental agenda of the South in general and
Africa in particular. Indeed, Ireland is a strong ally on African and other
international issues and has a significant development co-operation programme
in Africa, including South Africa.
In this regard, issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy President
Mlambo-Ngcuka and Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney are expected to include,
among others:
* Bilateral political and economic relations including South Africa's
Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (Asgisa);
* Political and development issues in Africa;
* South African and Irish experiences in economic development and
* The current situation in Northern Ireland.
While in South Africa Deputy Prime Minister Harney will also visit the
Atteridgeville Leratong Hospice and the Salesian Institute Street Youth
Project, participate in an Irish Business Network Dinner hosted by Enterprise
Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland, visit the Cape Peninsula University, the
Zanokhanyo Training Centre in Khayelitsha and the Medicines sans Frontiers
Clinic.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Total South African exports to Ireland in 2005 amounted to R1,122,108,000
(R1.12 billion), an increase from R1,02 billion in 2004, while imports from
Ireland in 2005 totalled R4,072,400,000 (R4.07 billion), a small increase from
R4,053 billion in 2004. The increase in South African exports to Ireland from
2004 to 2005 amounts to 9,5%.
There have been a number of significant Irish investments in South Africa,
the most famous perhaps being the take-over of the Argus group by Irish
entrepreneur Dr Tony O'Reilly and Irish Independent Newspapers. Another large
investment has been the purchase by Howard Holdings of eight historic buildings
in Cape Town which they are converting into a 6 star hotel, conference centre
and luxury apartments.
De Beers Industrial Diamonds has set up the largest industrial diamonds
processing facility in Europe in the Shannon Free Zone, employing 540
people.
Tourism has witnessed unprecedented growth with an increase of 43% in
tourism arrivals from Ireland in 2003 and 2004, placing Ireland, with a
population of only 4,1 million, in the 8th position of tourism source countries
for South Africa.
Development aid to South Africa
* During their European Union (EU) Presidency in the first half of 2004 the
Ireland pushed African issues up the agenda and played a critical role in the
establishment of the EU's African Peace Facility.
*Since coming to power in 1997, the current Irish government has trebled ODA to
around EUR545 million, making Ireland the world's eighth largest contributor
(0,41% of GDP). Eighty-five percent of bilateral Irish country assistance is
spent in Africa.
* Ireland contributed EUR200,000 to the Great Lakes Conference, EUR500,000
to AMIB, EUR500,000 to the African Union (AU) mission in Sudan and EUR300,000
to the New Partnership for Africaâs Development (NEPAD) Secretariat. The most
recent contribution has been in September 2005, when Foreign Minister Ahern
announced that Ireland would provide EUR500,000 to support the holding of
elections in the DRC in 2006.
* Ireland is the largest European contributor of troops to peace mission in
Africa.
* Ireland provides around E11 million per year to South Africa (with a major
focus on Limpopo) and in 2004 extended its programme for another 10 years until
2014. Ireland, in consultation with National Treasury, selected five priority
areas for their development co-operation programme: education; health;
HIV/AIDS; water and sanitation and good governance, democratisation and human
rights.
* The latest project in Limpopo has been a local economic development project
to benefit emerging tourism entrepreneurs in the greater Tzaneen and Letaba
municipalities.
* There are also a number of Irish non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active
in South Africa that receive funds from the Irish Government through other
channels, e.g. the NGO Fund, the Irish Missionaries Fund and the Bursaries
Fund.
Support of the African Agenda
Ireland is a strong supporter of the AU and NEPAD and contributed R2.4
million to the NEPAD secretariat in 2003. Its development co-operation budget
for Africa is about R4 billion and it has a particular interest in conflict
prevention.
Ireland is a traditional contributor to UN peace-keeping missions and
currently has a large contingent (430 troops) in Liberia. It is also a member
of the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Peace Process.
Ireland placed African issues high up the agenda of its January-June 2004 EU
Presidency and played a critical role in speeding up the establishment of the
African Peace Facility. The most recent contribution has been in September
2005, when Foreign Minister Ahern announced that Ireland would provide
EUR500,000 to support the holding of elections in the DRC in 2006.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
17 March 2006
Source: SAPA
