New Partnerships forged with other Nations over the past Ten Months in line with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s revised Strategic Priorities to ensure an Impact on Growth and Development

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 462

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 4 OF 26 FEBRUARY 2010

Mr L S Ngonyama (Cope) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

Whether new partnerships have been forged with other nations over the past ten months in line with her department’s revised strategic priorities to ensure an impact on growth and development; if not, why not; if so, (a) with which countries, (b) what are the timelines and (c) what are the further relevant details?

REPLY:

Yes, the DIRCO has embarked on initiatives.

A) 

Our government continues to build on the good relationship established since 1994 with all countries. A specific focus of these initiatives is the leveraging of possibilities to advance our developmental agenda. So, this would relate to the priorities as determined by our government from time to time including the period of the current administration.

B and C)

Engagement with all countries with which relations have been established since 1994 is an ongoing process in order to achieve tangible results, but the urgency of addressing poverty is emphasized in these engagements.

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation understands that all government priorities must receive urgent attention and therefore all priorities are urgently addressed in all bilateral mechanisms such as Joint Commissions.