Deputy President Kgelema Motlanthe to Co-Chair 3rd Session of Review Council of SA – Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Abuja, Nigeria, 14 – 15 November 2009.

Pretoria: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will, today 12 November 2009, depart South Africa for Nigeria to co-chair the 3rd Session of the Review Council of the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC) with his counterpart from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Vice President Dr Goodluck Jonathan, scheduled for 14-15 November in Abuja, Nigeria. The 3rd Review Council Meeting is preceded by the Special Implementation Committee (SIC) meeting which is at the level of Senior Government officials from 10-11 November 2009 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The 3rd Session of the Review Council takes place against the backdrop of the 10th Year Anniversary Celebrations of the BNC which commenced from 24 – 29 October 2009 in South Africa and 12-14 November in Nigeria. The theme of the celebrations is “South Africa–Nigeria Bi-National Commission: Celebrating 10 Year Anniversary,” and is aimed at highlighting and projecting the noble objectives of this milestone.

During the 3rd Session of the Review Council it is anticipated that several Agreements and MoUs will be considered, including:

• cooperation in the area of arts & culture; and
• economic and technical cooperation.

In line with the decision of the 7th Session of the BNC by the Co-Chairs to review progress made by the BNC Working Groups, the 1st Review Council meeting (an Apex Organ of the BNC) was convened in December 2008. The 1st Review Council meeting noted the challenges that have hampered the Working Groups of the BNC from implementing identified projects and instructed the officials to develop a Five Year Implementation Plan of Action for the BNC. Furthermore, the meeting approved the establishment of a Joint Preparatory Committee (JPC) of Senior Officials (5 a side) to work out the programme for celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the South Africa-Nigeria BNC, determine and advice on the structure and functions of the BNC and the establishment of the permanent secretariat for the BNC.

The BNC was borne out of a commitment by both South Africa and Nigeria to effectively structure the bilateral relations and to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

The Inaugural Session of the BNC was held in Abuja from 4 to 5 October 1999under the co-chairmanship of the Former Deputy and Vice Presidents of South Africa and Nigeria, respectively.

With regard to trade, exports and imports flow between South Africa and Nigeria registered substantial growth over the period 1999 to 2008, from R174 million to almost R22, 8 billion in 2008. This increase in growth can be attributed to an increase in the demand for energy resources in South Africa; hence 98% of imports from Nigeria are crude oil. South Africa’s exports to Nigeria grew from R505 million in 1999 to R7.1 billion in 2008 while imports from Nigeria increased from R123.6 million in 1999 to R15.7 billion in 2008.

Nigeria is regarded as West Africa's economic giant, contributing over 40% of West Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It presents investment opportunities in different sectors of the economy. Petroleum plays a major role in the Nigerian economy, accounting for 40% of the country’s GDP. Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS OF THE 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICA-NIGERIA BI-NATIONAL COMMISSION (BNC)

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag x152
Pretoria, 0001

12 November 2009