Date: 04/06/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Reception for visiting business & trade delegation from Lombardy, Italy
STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ON THE OCCASION OF A RECEPTION FOR THE VISITING BUSINESS AND TRADE DELEGATION FROM LOMBARDY, ITALY, Leeuwenhof, 4 June 2003
Premier Receives President Formigoni: Lombardy and the Western Cape Explore Shared Interests
The Premier of the Western Cape, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, met today with his counterpart, the President of the region of Lombardy, Italy, Mr Roberto Formigoni. The meeting was part of an official reception for the visiting trade and business delegation from Lombardy.
"It is our great pleasure to welcome President Formigoni and his delegation to the Western Cape," said Premier Van Schalkwyk, "Although there has been ongoing communication between our two regions since December 1999, when a delegation of Western Cape officials visited Lombardy, this meeting is our first formal political contact."
Speaking about the significance of the meeting with President Formigoni, Premier Van Schalkwyk added that although there was already some bilateral trade between the two regions, with companies from Lombardy, such as Parmalat and Velo, already well established in the Cape, there was much room for expansion of trade. "Milan is widely regarded as the fashion capital of Italy, if not of the world," said the Premier, "With the recent growth in the clothing and textile industry in the Western Cape, our unique gold and jewellery manufacturing sector, and our determination to bring South African fashion and flair to the rest of the world, there are countless opportunities for expanded investment and trade in the many overlapping growth sectors of our two economies."
Lombardy is one of the four regional 'engines of growth' of the EU. One of the most prosperous regions in Europe it has a GDP per capita about 35% higher than the European average, and its regional economy accounts for a fifth of the Italian national economy.
"The strengths of our two regions are very similar," said Premier Van Schalkwyk, "The craft industry represents one sixth of Lombardy's economy, with professional financial services which have established the region as the financial centre of Italy. Naturally this mirrors our own Western Cape economic profile and suggests that the opportunities for future bilateral cooperation are wide." The Premier also drew parallels between the commitment of the Western Cape to providing World Class education and the fact that Lombardy is the Italian region with the highest number of universities and which spends the most on scientific research.
"Of particular interest to the Western Cape is the fact that Lombardy has developed and introduced a range of innovative methods to manage, preserve and promote regional culture as a source of economic strength," said Premier Van Schalkwyk, "In addition to which, their regional government has also recently adopted a new organisational model for the health-care service. With our own adoption of HealthCare 2010 and the importance of culture and tourism to the Western Cape economy, it is clear that we have much to learn from one another."
This meeting has taken place at a critical time in African-European relations. With the G8 summit occurring almost simultaneously in Evian, France, the priorities, aspirations, and diversity of Africa are firmly on the European agenda. It is also important to recall that Italy will, on 1 July this year, assume the Presidency of the EU. "The Provincial Government of the Western Cape was particularly pleased to have had this opportunity to deepen our friendship with Lombardy," said the Premier, "It is our sincere hope that this contact will assist in developing even stronger bilateral relations in the future."
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
4 June 2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Reception for visiting business & trade delegation from Lombardy, Italy
STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ON THE OCCASION OF A RECEPTION FOR THE VISITING BUSINESS AND TRADE DELEGATION FROM LOMBARDY, ITALY, Leeuwenhof, 4 June 2003
Premier Receives President Formigoni: Lombardy and the Western Cape Explore Shared Interests
The Premier of the Western Cape, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, met today with his counterpart, the President of the region of Lombardy, Italy, Mr Roberto Formigoni. The meeting was part of an official reception for the visiting trade and business delegation from Lombardy.
"It is our great pleasure to welcome President Formigoni and his delegation to the Western Cape," said Premier Van Schalkwyk, "Although there has been ongoing communication between our two regions since December 1999, when a delegation of Western Cape officials visited Lombardy, this meeting is our first formal political contact."
Speaking about the significance of the meeting with President Formigoni, Premier Van Schalkwyk added that although there was already some bilateral trade between the two regions, with companies from Lombardy, such as Parmalat and Velo, already well established in the Cape, there was much room for expansion of trade. "Milan is widely regarded as the fashion capital of Italy, if not of the world," said the Premier, "With the recent growth in the clothing and textile industry in the Western Cape, our unique gold and jewellery manufacturing sector, and our determination to bring South African fashion and flair to the rest of the world, there are countless opportunities for expanded investment and trade in the many overlapping growth sectors of our two economies."
Lombardy is one of the four regional 'engines of growth' of the EU. One of the most prosperous regions in Europe it has a GDP per capita about 35% higher than the European average, and its regional economy accounts for a fifth of the Italian national economy.
"The strengths of our two regions are very similar," said Premier Van Schalkwyk, "The craft industry represents one sixth of Lombardy's economy, with professional financial services which have established the region as the financial centre of Italy. Naturally this mirrors our own Western Cape economic profile and suggests that the opportunities for future bilateral cooperation are wide." The Premier also drew parallels between the commitment of the Western Cape to providing World Class education and the fact that Lombardy is the Italian region with the highest number of universities and which spends the most on scientific research.
"Of particular interest to the Western Cape is the fact that Lombardy has developed and introduced a range of innovative methods to manage, preserve and promote regional culture as a source of economic strength," said Premier Van Schalkwyk, "In addition to which, their regional government has also recently adopted a new organisational model for the health-care service. With our own adoption of HealthCare 2010 and the importance of culture and tourism to the Western Cape economy, it is clear that we have much to learn from one another."
This meeting has taken place at a critical time in African-European relations. With the G8 summit occurring almost simultaneously in Evian, France, the priorities, aspirations, and diversity of Africa are firmly on the European agenda. It is also important to recall that Italy will, on 1 July this year, assume the Presidency of the EU. "The Provincial Government of the Western Cape was particularly pleased to have had this opportunity to deepen our friendship with Lombardy," said the Premier, "It is our sincere hope that this contact will assist in developing even stronger bilateral relations in the future."
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
4 June 2003
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