Date: 31/10/2002
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: Hellenic-SA Business Forum
OPENING REMARKS BY DR NC DLAMINI ZUMA, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AT THE HELLENIC-SOUTH AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM, 31 October 2002
Mr President
Deputy Minister Loverdos
The Hellenic business delegation
participating in today's Forum
Ladies and Gentlemen
Welcome to South Africa and the fairest Cape
President Stephanopoulos
Thank you for bringing such a large business contingent with you to South Africa, which I am sure, will further inspire a climate of reciprocal business confidence.
The Hellenic Republic, like South Africa, is a nation with a proud history. Both had to fight to preserve freedom. Both nations demonstrated the fact that it is the soul of a people that assures their freedom and not merely their physical strength.
Just as Africa is the cradle of humankind, one could suggest that the Hellenic Republic is the cradle of modern human epistemology and politics.
The South African Hellenic community has deep roots in this country and is a valuable asset in developing bilateral relations between our two countries.
The objectives of the new Millennium Declaration present considerable opportunities for collaboration between our two countries and our respective regions. While South Africa is regarded as the access point to Southern Africa, the Hellenic Republic is likewise regarded as the access point to the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) World Investment Report, some of the highest returns on investments globally are made on investments in Africa. However, Africa is still the region that receives the lowest flows of FDI in the world. There must therefore be some perceptions pertaining to Africa and profit that need to be redressed when these two facts are compared.
We would encourage a strong and meaningful engagement with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which is a continental socio-economic regeneration programme. It is important to note that Member States of Southern Africa are gradually integrating and this was evident with the recent conclusion of the South African Customs Union (SACU) by the five Member States.
We welcome the announcement that the Hellenic Republic will ratify the EU-SA Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) next month. The Hellenic Republic will be the 7th EU Member State to do so and it is hoped that other Member States who have not ratified the Agreement will follow suit. Ratification by all Member States will indeed release the potential economic benefits, which can be expected to flow from such an action, to South Africa.
During the first half of 2003 the Hellenic Republic will assume the EU Presidency, and South Africa will be the Chair of the African Union. It is during this period that a historic event will take place, namely the convening of the second Europe-Africa summit in April 2003 in Lisbon.
Mr President
Our valued discussions yesterday once again confirmed our common understanding of global issues, which can only provide us with increased opportunities to further develop our partnership.
It is trusted that a South African business delegation would give serious consideration to visiting the Hellenic Republic in the near future and that today's Business Seminar would indeed go a long way to stimulating such interest.
I would like to thank you as well as the Hellenic business people who are present here today for accepting our invitation to come to South Africa and demonstrating their keen interest in exploring business potential.
May I point out, Mr President, that South Africa as a healthy economy with a sound infrastructure base, strong financial institutions, and as a source of capital, makes it an attractive country to invest in.
I trust that you will have productive discussions to further consolidate our mutual economic relations.
Thank you
For more information contact:
Ms Basetsana Thokoane@ 083 443 7740)
Mr Ronnie Mamoepa@ 082 990 4853)
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
31 October 2002
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: Hellenic-SA Business Forum
OPENING REMARKS BY DR NC DLAMINI ZUMA, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AT THE HELLENIC-SOUTH AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM, 31 October 2002
Mr President
Deputy Minister Loverdos
The Hellenic business delegation
participating in today's Forum
Ladies and Gentlemen
Welcome to South Africa and the fairest Cape
President Stephanopoulos
Thank you for bringing such a large business contingent with you to South Africa, which I am sure, will further inspire a climate of reciprocal business confidence.
The Hellenic Republic, like South Africa, is a nation with a proud history. Both had to fight to preserve freedom. Both nations demonstrated the fact that it is the soul of a people that assures their freedom and not merely their physical strength.
Just as Africa is the cradle of humankind, one could suggest that the Hellenic Republic is the cradle of modern human epistemology and politics.
The South African Hellenic community has deep roots in this country and is a valuable asset in developing bilateral relations between our two countries.
The objectives of the new Millennium Declaration present considerable opportunities for collaboration between our two countries and our respective regions. While South Africa is regarded as the access point to Southern Africa, the Hellenic Republic is likewise regarded as the access point to the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) World Investment Report, some of the highest returns on investments globally are made on investments in Africa. However, Africa is still the region that receives the lowest flows of FDI in the world. There must therefore be some perceptions pertaining to Africa and profit that need to be redressed when these two facts are compared.
We would encourage a strong and meaningful engagement with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which is a continental socio-economic regeneration programme. It is important to note that Member States of Southern Africa are gradually integrating and this was evident with the recent conclusion of the South African Customs Union (SACU) by the five Member States.
We welcome the announcement that the Hellenic Republic will ratify the EU-SA Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) next month. The Hellenic Republic will be the 7th EU Member State to do so and it is hoped that other Member States who have not ratified the Agreement will follow suit. Ratification by all Member States will indeed release the potential economic benefits, which can be expected to flow from such an action, to South Africa.
During the first half of 2003 the Hellenic Republic will assume the EU Presidency, and South Africa will be the Chair of the African Union. It is during this period that a historic event will take place, namely the convening of the second Europe-Africa summit in April 2003 in Lisbon.
Mr President
Our valued discussions yesterday once again confirmed our common understanding of global issues, which can only provide us with increased opportunities to further develop our partnership.
It is trusted that a South African business delegation would give serious consideration to visiting the Hellenic Republic in the near future and that today's Business Seminar would indeed go a long way to stimulating such interest.
I would like to thank you as well as the Hellenic business people who are present here today for accepting our invitation to come to South Africa and demonstrating their keen interest in exploring business potential.
May I point out, Mr President, that South Africa as a healthy economy with a sound infrastructure base, strong financial institutions, and as a source of capital, makes it an attractive country to invest in.
I trust that you will have productive discussions to further consolidate our mutual economic relations.
Thank you
For more information contact:
Ms Basetsana Thokoane@ 083 443 7740)
Mr Ronnie Mamoepa@ 082 990 4853)
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
31 October 2002
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