Deputy Minister Ebrahim I Ebrahim to lead South African Delegation to SADC Council of Ministers

Pretoria-Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ebrahim I Ebrahim is to lead the South African delegation to the SADC Council of Ministers meeting to be held in Windhoek, Namibia scheduled for 03-04 March 2011. The Deputy Minister’s attendance comes within the context of supporting the work programme of the SADC region as a central component of South Africa’s foreign policy.

The upcoming Council of Minister meeting is the first meeting of the year 2011 and the second meeting will be held later this year prior to the SADC Annual Summit which usually takes place in August. Accordingly the Council Meeting will give consideration to matters arising from various sectorial programmes and meetings over the past year including the overall performance of SADC institutions. Furthermore the work programmes and budget of the SADC Secretariat for the next year financial year will also be considered.

The March 2011 Council of Ministers meeting will be preceded by a number of meetings including the Finance Subcommittee meeting and the Standing Committee of Senior Officials meeting from 27 February-02 March 2011 to deliberate on a number of issues in preparation for the Council Ministers.

The Council of Ministers will also deliberate on progress reports on the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISPD) and the Operationalisation of the Regional Climate Change Centre. Amongst others the meeting will also consider possible dates for the 2011 SADC Consultative Conference on the impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis which was scheduled for the end of last year but was subsequently postponed.

In line with regional and continental objectives of pursuing deeper economic integration, the SADC Council of Ministers will also deliberate on the process relating to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite arrangement including arrangements for the Second Tripartite Summit to be held in the next few weeks. The objective of these deliberations is the establishment of a Free Trade Area (FTA) encompassing the three RECs. An extensive process of national consultations and related work programmes has taken place over the past two years to advance the FTA arrangement.

For further information please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

ORTambo Building
Private bag X152
Pretoria
26 February 2011