Japan
5 July 2007
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele is presently in Tokyo leading a
KwaZulu-Natal business and government delegation on a study tour of Japan.
Premier Ndebele is supported by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and
Environmental Affairs Mr Mtholephi Mthimkhulu. The main objective of the visit
is to study Japan's waste management initiatives and promote co-operation in
areas of joint interest between KwaZulu-Natal and certain prefectures
(provinces) in Japan.
The visit is being co-ordinated by South Africa's Ambassador to Japan and
former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Dr Baldwin (Ben) Ngubane. Several high-level
meetings between Premier Ndebele and Japanese governors (premiers) will take
place.
Premier Ndebele said the visit was aimed at strengthening economic ties,
with a special focus on environmental and agricultural issues. "One of the
reasons KwaZulu-Natal had set its sights on Japan is to help improve our tea
production in the province in order to meet international standards. Despite
its potential, tea production in KwaZulu-Natal has not reached the desired
levels. We have projects such as Ntingwe Tea and Paddock Tea farms and our
co-operation with Japan will help improve their production capacity," said
Premier Ndebele.
The delegation will visit the green tea plantation in Shizuoka prefecture
(province) with the aim of improving KwaZulu-Natal's tea industry. Governor
Ishikawa of the Shizuoka prefecture together with Mr Watanabe Kisakuen, a
successful tea farmer who visited KwaZulu-Natal towards the end of last year,
have already expressed interest in assisting to develop KwaZulu-Natal's tea
industry.
One of the primary objectives would be for the delegation to gain a better
understanding of the different green tea production and processing methods, how
the resulting green teas differ in terms of taste and health properties and how
this will affect their marketability in the various target markets.
Further, Japan, as custodian of the Kyoto Protocol and also a major donor
country supporting climate change issues, is recognised as the most energy
efficient country in the world today. Countries such as India and China
regularly visit Japan to study its best practices in the field of environmental
affairs.
To this end, meetings with relevant public agencies on best practice for
waste management in the city of Kitakyushu in the South of Japan have been
arranged. Kitakyushu city's development was based on its steel industry, but
suffered from heavy pollution until 30 years ago and has subsequently shown
remarkable leadership in environmental improvement practices to counter
pollution.
Kitakyushu received a special award for environmental management at the
World Conference on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in South Africa in 2002.
In addition, the delegation will also visit the Japan International
Co-operation Agency (Jica) Kyushu International Centre in Yahata. The Jica
technical co-operation programme with South Africa is based on Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and Joint Initiative for
Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) related projects, as initiated by South
Africa's Deputy President during her working visit to Japan in April 2006.
Japan has created a multi-stakeholder forum, known as the Japan Jipsa Working
Group, comprised of Japanese government institutions, business, civil society
(notably universities and research centres) to collaborate with South Africa on
poverty alleviation and skills development.
Premier Ndebele will also meet with the Vice Chairman of Toyota Motor
Corporation, Mr Katsuhiro Nakagawa. A new Toyota engine factory has been
established outside Kitakyushu, which constitutes the first such plant outside
Toyota City (located in Nagoya). It supplies 70% of auto parts needed for this
area and has a new Automotive Promotion Programme, inviting parts companies to
locate to this area. Its objective is to produce 1,5 million vehicles per annum
in the next two years.
It is envisaged that the KwaZulu-Natal study tour to Japan will facilitate
high level meaningful discussions with several Japanese counterparts and would
lead to project collaboration aimed at sustainable development initiatives
between KwaZulu-Natal and relevant prefectures (provinces) in Japan.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Premier's Spokesperson
Cell: 082 566 6783
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
5 July 2007
