Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim to chair a Meeting on the Trilateral Project to improve Rice and Vegetable Production in the Republic of Guinea

Pretoria: Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim Ebrahim will Chair a High Level Review Panel Meeting involving Vietnam and Guinea on the project to improve Rice and Vegetable production in Guinea scheduled for 20 July 2011 in Pretoria.

The forthcoming High Level meeting will be attended by the Guinean Minister of Agriculture – H.E. Jean Telliano and the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development – H.E. Mr Ho Xuan. Accordingly, the Panel will assess the implementation of a Project to Improve Rice and Vegetable Production in Guinea.

The Rice Project came into being on the back of a Memorandum of Understanding that defined a trilateral cooperation involving the Governments of the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Guinea, and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The MoU speaks to the  Implementation of a Project to Improve Rice and Vegetable Production in the Republic of Guinea’ and is intended to assist in improving of food security in the Republic of Guinea by, amongst others increasing the production of rice and vegetable  in a sustainable and economically viable basis.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that South Africa has contributed forty five million rand (R45 million) to the three year Project which commenced on 31 May 2008 and was supposed to end on 31 May 2011.   However, the Project Term has been experiencing a number of challenges (both political and financial) which resulted in an atmosphere that was inimical to the attainment of some of the set objectives. Consequently, only R15 044 367.40 of the allotted R45 000 000.00 was released and the Government of South Africa rolled over the Funds for the period of two years at the request of the Government of Guinea.

The High Level Review Panel will also evaluate the implementation of the Trilateral Project from May 2008-2011 and map out broad parameters for the extension period of two years (ending May 2013).  

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

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION Pretoria

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale

18 JULY 2011