South African delegation to Tokyo International Conference on African
Development (TICAD) IV
19 March 2009
Pretoria: South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe
will tomorrow, Friday, 20 March 2009, leave for Gaborone, Botswana to
participate in the TICAD IV Ministerial-Level followâup meeting scheduled for
21 to 22 March 2009.
The aim of the Gaborone meeting is to examine and assess the progress on the
implementation of assistance measures agreed to at Yokohama in May 2008 and to
discuss the action plan adopted by this summit.
South Africa is expected to make a keynote presentation during the fourth
plenary session of the meeting focussing on the "Impact of the Global Economic
Crisis and Economic Downturn", ahead of the second G20 Summit Meeting on
Financial Markets and the World Economy to be held in London in April 2009.
In this regard TICAD IV will, among others, focus on the following
areas:
* state of progress in respect of the Yokohama action plan, and future
challenges
* boosting economic growth - prospects and challenges
* achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs), prospects and
challenges
* human security issues (health, education, community development etc)
* consolidation of peace/good governance
* impact of the global financial crisis and economic downturn on africa, and
the challenges.
The Africa-Japan Ministerial follow-up meeting to the fourth Tokyo
International Conference on African Development provides an opportunity to
further north-south co-operation for the social and economic development of
Africa.
Deputy Minister's delegation returns to South Africa on Monday, 23 March
2009.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
19 March 2009
