The United Kingdom Department for International Development will spend R150 m in the Province of the Eastern Cape this year, the Premier, Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, said today after meeting the United Kingdom High Commissioner to South Africa, Ms Ann Grant.

Speaking to the media, Premier Stofile acknowledged the contribution made by the UK government to the South African economy, in particular in the Eastern Cape.

Furthermore, Premier Stofile said the government of the Eastern Cape has identified four priority areas for DFID support in the province, namely
* rural development
* public sector transformation
* HIV/AIDS
* social needs.

The British High Commissioner, Ms Ann Grant, who is on a five-day visit to the province, said the UK is honoured to be a development partner with the Eastern Cape and pronounced that on top of the monetary contribution that her country is making they will deploy their official in Bisho on a full-time basis to focus on the developmental needs of the Eastern Cape.

The High Commissioner concluded by saying that the UK views the Eastern Cape as a strategic developmental area that DFID should focus on in the next five years - Eastern Cape Provincial Government.