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Deputy President Zuma Arrives in Poland
Deputy President Zuma arrived in Warsaw, Poland on
Sunday night, for a two day official visit aimed at
boosting economic and political ties between the Republic
of Poland and the Republic of South Africa.
The Deputy President's delegation includes:
- The Minister for Science and Technology, Mosibudi
Mangena,
- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad,
- Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Professor Dirk du
Toit,
- Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Lindiwe Hendricks,
This is the first high level visit to Poland by the
South African government, and is expected to enhance
the relations between the two countries, especially
given Poland's strategic role in central Europe. During
the visit the Deputy President will hold bilateral consultations
with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Mr
Marek Belka, and pay a courtesy call on the President
of the Republic, Mr Aleksander Kwasniewski. He will
also later today address members of the Polish Chamber
of Commerce.
Poland is well known for its high levels of expertise
in the field of science and technology. South Africa
and Poland signed an Agreement on Co-operation in the
field of Science and Technology in November 1999. Although
the Agreement has already been implemented and is working
well, there is still a large reservoir of knowledge,
expertise and goodwill that needs to be tapped into.
Since the Agreement was signed, regular meetings of
the Joint Commission on Science and Technological Co-operation
have taken place on an annual basis, alternatively in
Pretoria and Warsaw. During such meetings, the Joint
Commission compiles executive programmes on a yearly
basis and invites new project proposals from scientists
in both countries for the following year.
In 1999, after the signing of the Agreement, the Polish
authorities committed themselves to an investment of
US $2.5 million in the Southern African Large Telescope,
which is now nearing completion in Sutherland in the
Northern Cape.
The country is also well known for its agricultural
expertise, which creates possibilities of co-operation
in that regard.
The visit ends on Tuesday 14 September after which
the Deputy President and delegation will proceed to
Romania for the second leg of the Central European visit.
Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda, 0948 694 927 463.
The Presidency
Pretoria
13 September 2004
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