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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma to Host South Africa - Rwanda Joint Commission
of Co-Operation Meeting, Pretoria, 27 July 2004
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
will host her Rwandan counterpart, Dr Charles Murigande
for the Third Session of the South Africa - Rwanda Joint
Commission of Co-operation (JCC) on Tuesday, 27 July
2004 at the Presidential Guesthouse, Pretoria.
The JCC was established in terms of the General Agreement
on Bilateral Co-operation, which provides a framework
in which an intense and vibrant political and economic
partnership can be developed between South Africa and
Rwanda. In this regard, the JCC also provides both countries
with a mechanism through which they can identify joint
projects aimed at strengthening economic co-operation
between them.
Since the first session of the JCC held in Pretoria
on 22 June 2001 and the second JCC held in Rwanda, Kigali
during December 2002, significant progress has been
made. A substantial number of successful programmes
and action plans have been implemented by the JCC with
a special focus on training and development and gender
mainstreaming.
At the conclusion of the JCC it is expected that the
respective Home Affairs Ministers will sign a Memorandum
of Understanding with specific reference to co-operation
on immigration, refugee and nationality issue; human
trafficking; establishment and use of movement control
systems; management of data, technical systems and products;
training in network security and programming languages,
will further strengthen relations.
Bilateral relations:
South Africa and Rwanda have close bilateral relations,
which are characterised by close contact at the highest
political level. South Africa and Rwanda established
diplomatic relations on 28 February 1995.
Thus far the following agreements have been concluded
between the two countries:
- Bilateral Air Transport (1993)
- Establishment of Diplomatic Relations (1995)
- Declaration of Intent (1997)
- General Agreement on Bilateral Co-operation (1999)
- Agreement and Protocol for the Reciprocal Promotion
and Protection of Investments (2000)
- Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint Commission
of Co-operation (2000)
- Agreement on Co-operation in Education (2000)
- Agreement on Institutional Co-operation in the field
of Agriculture and Livestock (2000)
- Declaration of Intent on Institutional Co-operation
in the Field of Health (2001)
- Declaration of Intent concerning Bilateral Co-operation
in the Field of Transport (2001)
- Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention
of Fiscal Evasion (2002)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Police Co-operation
(2002)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Institutional Co-operation
in the Field of Health (2002)
- Declaration of Intent on Co-operation in Defence
(2002)
The recent signing of an Agreement on Defence by the
South African Minister of Defence, Mosioua Lekota and
his Rwandan counterpart, General Machel on 5 July 2004
in the areas of training, capacity building and transformation
is viewed as a positive step in consolidating defence
and security co-operation.
More than 200 hundred Rwandan students have been studying
at South African tertiary institutions under a bilateral
education agreement.
A trilateral agreement between the governments of South
Africa, Cuba and Rwanda on health co-operation, funded
by South Africa's African Renaissance Fund, has facilitated
the implementation of a programme whereby Cuban medical
practitioners will train medical personnel in Rwanda.
Economic / Trade relations:
Trade between South Africa and Rwanda is limited.
South African imports from Rwanda:
· R 75,8 million (2001)
· R 4,2 million (2002)
· R 1,5 million (2003)
South African exports to Rwanda:
· R 81.7 million (2001)
· R82 million (2002)
· R 87,2 (2003)
A number of South African companies, including cell-phone
operator MTN, have set up ventures and investment in
Rwanda. The two countries are at one that there remains
significant room for expansion in trade and economic
relations between South Africa and Rwanda.
Issued by Mr Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 - 900 4853
The Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag x152
PRETORIA
0001
25 July 2004
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