Your Excellency Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We are almost at the end of a very remarkable year for both South Africa and Japan. In April this year, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and former Japanese Foreign Minister Okada agreed to elevate our bilateral relations to the level of strategic cooperation. This partnership is important for promoting relations with Japan, including high-level visits in both directions.
For South Africa, 2010 will be fondly remembered as the year in which we successfully hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a first for the continent. In the process we believe we positively influenced the country’s image, both nationally and internationally.
We trust that this legacy is a sound foundation upon which we can build a prosperous South Africa. Japan’s Blue Samurai acquitted themselves well in the World Cup and reached the final 16. Congratulations! Another first was the visit of Princess Takamado to South Africa during the World Cup, to support the Blue Samurai.
2010 also marks the centennial of official relations between our two countries. This watershed milestone has been celebrated both here and in Japan through year-long events, in which the Embassy of Japan took the lead in South Africa.
Your Excellency,
We welcome the establishment of the Centre for Japanese Studies at the Gordon Institute for Business Science in October 2010. The centre is an important legacy project of the 2010 Centennial celebrations. We expect it to become a centre for academic and business interactions and to contribute to promoting human networks and greater mutual human understanding.
As you are aware, trade between our countries remains the backbone of our relationship. Japan was our number one export destination in three of the last five years and is one of South Africa’s top three trading partners worldwide, the only one of our top partners with whom we enjoy a consistent and significant trade surplus.
Exports are dominated by metals (principally platinum) and non-processed mineral ores, but there have also been promising volumes of motor vehicle exports, reaching a high of R7,4 billion in 2007. An area where growth can and must be promoted is in value-addition to our exports, through beneficiation of minerals, metals and other inputs, for example through the manufacture of catalytic converters and vehicle components. Our trade is mutually beneficial and can become more so, an aspect we will continue to discuss.
As regards value-addition, we welcome Toyota’s July 2010 decision to expand its local production facilities and to increase local content from 45 percent to 70 percent and to increase exports of locally-assembled vehicles. There was also the acquisition by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph of Dimension Data for R24 billion this year.
These are encouraging moves and bring technology transfers, access to international networks and intellectual property, and skills development. Indeed, these companies have paved the way for other Japanese companies to trade with and invest in South Africa.
As President Zuma has said, “South Africa is open for business” and Japanese investors will be interested in further investment opportunities both in South Africa and our neighbouring states. Already 86 Japanese investors have interests in South Africa, providing many thousands of jobs to our workers.
Japan’s profile as the world’s second largest economy, a high-technology, clean energy and energy-efficient country, makes it an attractive partner for South Africa as we go forward with government’s infrastructure programme and the roll-out of IPAP 2 and the New Growth Plan (NGP). Japan offers a number of competitive advantages in fields such as electricity generation including efficient coal and nuclear plants; rail and port infrastructure, including high speed trains and telecommunications.
Your Excellency, distinguished guests,
Our government sincerely appreciates Japan’s efforts to enhance the friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries. The Japanese Government’s continued support for the South African Government’s five priorities through capacity building and skills development, most notably in the education, health and water sectors, is held in high regard, as is scientific and technical cooperation.
The envisioned high-level visits between South Africa and Japan will go a long way towards deepening and reinvigorating our existing relations. We have agreed and are working on the arrangements for a visit to Japan by my colleague, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation as well as an official visit by President Zuma, who will be accompanied by a strong business delegation.
Your Excellency,
South Africa attaches great importance to our close and cordial relations of friendship and cooperation also at the continental level. Japan’s involvement since 1993, in Africa’s development through the Tokyo International Conference for Africa’s Development (TICAD IV) is growing rapidly. Through TICAD, Japan is supporting the African Agenda and assisting African governments to:
- boost economic growth - thereby reducing poverty
- ensure Human Security through achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the consolidation of Peace and Good Governance
- address Environmental Issues and Climate Change.
In this connection, we also look forward to continuing and strengthening our friendship at multilateral level in pursuit of a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous global community. We would like to express our thanks for Japan’s recent vote in support of South Africa’s election to the United Nations Security Council.
Your Excellency, on this occasion, when we celebrate the birthday of His Majesty, Emperor Akihito, and the 21st anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the throne, on behalf of the South African Government and our people, I take pleasure in extending to you and the Japanese nation our warmest congratulations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In this spirit, I have the pleasure to request you to join me in a toast to the good health and prosperity of his Majesty Emperor Akihito and to friendship, trust, peace and prosperity between the peoples of South Africa and Japan.
To our enduring friendship!
I thank you.
Enquiries:
Zweli Mnisi
Tel: 012 393 4341 or 021 467 7007
Cell: 082 045 4024
E-mail: zwelim@saps.org.za
