South African President Thabo Mbeki will on Wednesday, 17 October 2007 in a historic first host Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and Brazilian President Lula da Silva for the strategic Trilateral India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Summit at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria. This will be the first time South Africa hosts the IBSA Summit since its inception.
The Summit of Heads of State and Government will be preceded by an IBSA Ministerial Working Breakfast hosted by Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma with her counterparts from India and Brazil, Foreign Ministers Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
It is expected that a number of trilateral agreements will be signed following the meeting of Heads of State and Government focusing on shipping, information and communication technology (ICT) and energy.
India-Brazil-South Africa have very vibrant democracies, common views on major global issues and are substantial players in their respective sub-regional economies. Collectively India, Brazil and South Africa have a population of over 1,3 billion people and a combined market of almost US$2 trillion.
Accordingly, issues on the agenda of discussions between the Heads of State and Government and various working groups on Wednesday, 17 October 2007 are expected to include, ways in which to increase trilateral economic, trade and investment to reflect the strong and substantial political relations between the three countries with a view to pushing back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment and creating better lives for the peoples of all three continents in particular and the South in general.
Some of these discussions will also revolve around improving the air and sea connectivity between the three countries with a view to ensuring air and maritime connectivity between the three regions and their continents. The three countries have already signed an agreement on aviation and maritime.
The three Heads of State and Government will also, during the summit receive reports from representatives of the various IBSA working groups including business, academics, the parliamentary forum, the civil society forum and the women's forum.
On conclusion of the IBSA Summit President Mbeki is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and the President of Brazil Lula da Silva respectively.
Issues on the agenda of discussions are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries,
* developments with regard to the World Trade Organisation negotiations and the conclusion of the Doha Development Round,
* progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,
* the comprehensive reform of the United Nations system.
Programme for IBSA Summit
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Ministerial Discussions
7h30: Arrival of media ahead of photo opportunity and introductory remarks on commencement of IBSA Ministerial Discussions
Venue: First Floor East Wing, Union Buildings, Pretoria
Media to arrive through Government Avenue
Please present press cards
8h00: Commencement of IBSA Ministerial Trilateral Discussions
Media in attendance
IBSA Summit
8h15: Briefing to media regarding arrangements for the day in the Media Centre at the Sheraton Hotel on Church Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
8h30: Accredited media to depart from Sheraton Hotel on Church Street, Arcadia, Pretoria for Presidential Guesthouse
9h30: Heads of State and Government from India and Brazil arrive at Presidential Guesthouse
To be received by President Mbeki
Photo opportunity (for videographers and photographers only)
10h00: Opening plenary of IBSA Summit
Media in attendance for opening remarks and photo opportunity
(Pool arrangement: 10 media representatives from each side)
12h30: All accredited media to depart from Sheraton Hotel on Church Street, Arcadia, Pretoria for Presidential Guesthouse
13h30: Closing plenary and signing of agreements
(Pool arrangement: 10 media representatives from each side)
14h00: Joint Press Conference
All media to attend
Other logistical matters
Transportation
8h30 for 10h00: Departure from Sheraton for Presidential Guesthouse for the opening plenary:
12h30 for 14h00: Departure from Sheraton for Presidential Guesthouse for concluding press conference
Media will not have access to the guesthouse unless transported in the shuttles from the Sheraton Hotel
Accreditation
All media covering any of the IBSA events must be accredited.
Media centre
Media centre available at Sandton Convention Centre
Media centre available at Sheraton Hotel on Church Street, Arcadia, Pretoria.
Internet enabled computers will be available.
For further information please contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Matshepo Seedat
Cell: 083 228 5041
