Moller, Pretoria
21 January 2009
Pretoria: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on
Friday, 23 January 2009, hold bilateral political, economic and trade
discussions with her Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller at the Union
Buildings in Pretoria. Minister Moller is scheduled to visit South Africa from
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 to Monday, 26 January 2009.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will host Minister Moller within the context of South
Africa's priority to consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade
relations with Denmark with a view to strengthening North-South relations.
Accordingly, issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini
Zuma and Moller on Friday, 23 January 2009, are expected to include, among
others:
* The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between
the two countries.
* The forthcoming Nordic African Foreign Ministers' informal meeting
* A briefing on developments in Europe and Africa including the European Union
and the African Union including Southern Development Community (SADC).
* Peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Africa including in the Great Lakes
region, Sudan, Somalia and Zimbabwe.
* The Middle East and issues of global interest including the financial crisis,
climate change and the reformation of global institutions of governance.
Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Moller will also sign a Declaration of Intent
between the two countries on conclusion of their discussions.
While in South Africa Minister Moller will also open a wind energy seminar
with Minister Sonjica and deliver an address on the "broad security concept
including climate and energy" at the University of Pretoria African Dialogue
Guest Lectures Series.
Bilateral economic relations
Exports to Denmark
2008 (March): R176 000 000
2007: R1 380 994 000
2006: R1 189 131 000
2005: R859 357 000
Imports from Denmark
March: R455 000 000
2007: R1 913 391 000
2006: R1 519 708 000
2005: R1 217 510 000
Tourists to South Africa
Year: 2005
Number: 21 027
Change, compared to previous: +1,66
Year: 2006
Number: 24 892
Change, compared to previous: +11,8
Year: 2007
Number: 26 010
Change, compared to previous: +4,5
Year: 2007, Jan-Oct
Number: 21 000
2008, Jan-Oct: 22 275
Change, compared to previous: +6,1
Development aid donor
Denmark is one of the largest donor countries (relative to their GDP),
contributing one percent of its GNP to development assistance.
In 2003 the Danish Government launched a number of important initiatives
within the field of development assistance with a view to making Danish
assistance more targeted and more effective in terms of impact. A new policy
document was launched, "A world of difference," giving the Danish Government's
general position on development co-operation matters. The document singles out
the various sectors and themes, which will be prioritised in the future Danish
assistance. Another important initiative was the decentralisation of the
administration development assistance to the embassies in the most important
countries with whom Denmark is co-operating, including South Africa.
In August 2008, the Danish Foreign Ministry and Danish International
Development Agency (DANIDA) publicised its latest strategy called Priorities of
the Danish Government for Danish Development Assistance an overview of the
development assistance budget 2009/13. In the document, the Danish Government
sets out its strategy as far as development aid is concerned. It identifies 15
countries which will be receiving aid. It furthermore pledges 3,3 billion
Danish Krone for development assistance to Africa. The money will be dispersed
to eight countries in the form of 11 programmes ranging from promotion of good
governance to water sanitation. The countries who will be receiving assistance
are: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Mali and
Niger.
Media programme for visit to South Africa by Danish foreign minister
Thursday, 22 to Friday, 23 January 2009
Thursday, 22 January 2009
11h00: Minister Moller to present Guest lecture at University of Pretoria's
"African Dialogue Guest Lectures Series" followed by a press opportunity.
Theme: The broad security concept including climate and energy
Friday, 23 January 2009
08h45: Minister Moller to open Wind Energy seminar at Hotel Sheraton in
Pretoria together with South Africa's Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa
Sonjica and sign a bilateral declaration about energy corporation with South
Africa
10h45: Media to arrive ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of
bilateral discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Moller
Venue: First Floor East Wing, Union Buildings Pretoria
RSVPs: masangod@foreign.gov.za
or pillaim@foreign.gov.za
Please present press cards.
Parking on Government Avenue.
Contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
David Masango
Cell: 084 502 2830
11h15: Commencement of bilateral discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma
and Moller
Media in attendance for opening remarks and photo opportunity
12h00: Media to arrive ahead of press conference on conclusion of bilateral
discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Møller
Venue: First Floor East Wing, Union Buildings, Pretoria
Please RSVP to masangod@foreign.gov.za or pillaim@foreign.gov.za
Please present press cards.
Parking on Government Avenue.
Contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
David Masango
Cell: 084 502 2830
12h30: Joint press conference
For more information contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
21 January 2009
