mission
14 July 2006
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Honourable Sibusiso Ndebele, and his
delegation today, 14 July 2006, return from an official fact-finding visit
which covered three Europe's major foot-balling nations Portugal, Germany and
France.
The official visit was two-pronged aimed at gathering information about
these countries' experience in organising for major football events and also to
woo investors to take advantage of the opportunities offered by KwaZulu-Natal
province.
The Premier and his entourage left South Africa on 26 June 2006.
KwaZulu-Natal in general and Durban in particular has been earmarked as one of
the host cities of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Therefore the visit has afforded
the Premier and his delegations an opportunity to gather much-needed
information and required expertise so the province could better prepare for
2010 Soccer Tournament.
Portugal successfully organised the 2004 Euro Cup which it won and France
was the organisers and winners of the 1998 World Cup finals and Germany
successfully organised the 2006 World Cup edition.
Whilst in Europe the delegations inspected different sites that hosted these
major football events and also held discussions with various stakeholders with
the view of gathering information, strengthening bilateral relations and also
exploring new areas of future cooperation and investment needed to make the
2010 Soccer World Cup a success and also to advance economic development of the
province.
The official visit was an overall success. It has further consolidated
bilateral relations and investigated other areas which have the potential of
accelerating the provincial government's vision for social stability and
economic growth target of six percent and beyond.
The Director-General of the Province, Prof Mandla Mchunu, will give minutiae
on this and other related issues in a Press Briefing to convene shortly.
Details of the press briefing will be announced in due course.
Enquiries:
Selby Khumalo
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 633 9404
Thulani Sithole
Tel: (033) 341 3428
Fax: (033) 345 8490
Cell: 084 466 1326
E-mail: sitholtn@premier.kzn.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
14 July 2006
Source: SAPA
