|
Minister Dlamini Zuma to host Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller, Friday 23 January, Pretoria
Pretoria – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Friday 23 January 2009 hold bilateral political, economic and trade discussions with Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Minister Møller is scheduled to visit South Africa from Wednesday – Monday 21-26 January 2009.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will host Minister Møller within the context of South Africa’s priority to consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Denmark with a view to strengthening North-South relations.
Accordingly, issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Møller on Friday 23 January 2009 are expected to include, among others:
- The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries;
- The forthcoming Nordic – African Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting;
- A briefing on developments in Europe and Africa including the European Union and the African Union including SADC;
- Peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Africa including in the Great Lakes region, Sudan, Somalia and Zimbabwe;
- The Middle East; and
- Issues of global interest including the financial crisis, climate change and the reformation of global institutions of governance.
Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Møller will also sign a Declaration of Intent between the two countries on conclusion of their discussions.
While in South Africa Minister Møller will also open a wind energy seminar with Minister Sonjica and deliver an address on the “Broad Security Concept including Climate and Energy” at the University of Pretoria African Dialogue Guest Lectures Series.
Bilateral Economic Relations
| Year |
Exports to Denmark |
Imports from Denmark |
| 2008(March) |
R 176 000 000 |
R 455 000 000 |
| 2007 |
R1 380 994 000 |
R 1 913 391 000 |
| 2006 |
R1 189 131 000 |
R 1 519 708 000 |
| 2005 |
R859 357 000 |
R 1 217 510 000 |
Tourists to South Africa
Year Number Change, compared to previous 2005 21 027 +1.66
2006 24 892 +11.8
2007 26 010 +4.5
2007, Jan-Oct 21 000
2008, Jan-Oct 22 275 +6.1
Development aid donor
Denmark is one of the largest donor countries (relative to their GDP), contributing 1% of its GNP to development assistance.
In 2003 the Danish Government launched a number of important initiatives within the field of development assistance with a view to making Danish assistance more targeted and more effective in terms of impact. A new policy document was launched, “A world of difference”, giving the Danish Government’s general position on development co-operation matters. The document singles out the various sectors and themes, which will be prioritised in the future Danish assistance. Another important initiative was the decentralisation of the administration development assistance to the embassies in the most important countries with whom Denmark is co-operating, including South Africa.
In August 2008, the Danish Foreign Ministry and DANIDA publicized its latest strategy called “ Priorities of the Danish Government for Danish Development Assistance: An Overview of the Development Assistance Budget 2009 to 2013. In the document, the Danish Government sets out its strategy as far as development aid is concerned. It identifies 15 countries which will be receiving aid. It furthermore pledges 3,3 billion Danish Krone for development assistance to Africa. The money will be dispersed to 8 countries in the form of 11 programmes ranging from promotion of good governance to water sanitation. The countries who will be receiving assistance are: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Mali and Niger.
MEDIA PROGRAMME FOR VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA BY DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER
Thursday 22 – Friday 23 January 2009
Thursday 22 January 2009
11h00 Minister Møller to present Guest lecture atUniversity of Pretoria’s: “African Dialogue Guest Lectures Series” followed by a press opportunity. Theme: The broad security concept including climate and energy.
Friday 23 January 2009
08h45 Minister Møller to open Wind Energy seminar at Hotel Sheraton in Pretoria together with South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica and sign a bilateral declaration about Energy Corporation with South Africa
10h45 Media to arrive ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of bilateral discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Møller
Venue : First Floor East Wing
Union Buildings
Pretoria
(Please RSVP to masangod@foreign.gov.za or pillaim@foreign.gov.za)
(Please present press cards)
(Parking on Government Avenue)
Contact : Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587
David Masango on 084 502 2830
11h15 Commencement of bilateral discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Møller
Media in attendance for opening remarks and photo opportunity
12h00 Media to arrive ahead of press conference on conclusion of bilateral discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Møller
Venue : First Floor East Wing
Union Buildings
Pretoria
(Please RSVP to masangod@foreign.gov.za or pillaim@foreign.gov.za)
(Please present press cards)
(Parking on Government Avenue)
Contact : Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587
David Masango on 084 502 2830
12h30 Joint Press Conference
For further information contact Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
21 January 2009
|
