The Premier of the Eastern Cape, the Reverend Stofile, together with Mr Enoch Godongwana, MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism, lead a business delegation to an investment conference for the Eastern Cape, organised by its twin province Nieder Oesterreich, on 16 and 17 September 1999 in Austria.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Premier Stofile and Governor Proell of Nieder Oesterreich in June 1998 to establish a partnership for Reconstruction and Development for the Eastern Cape. The partnership focuses mainly on economic support and cooperation in the fields of administration, management, communication, agriculture, tourism and culture.
The investment conference will focus mainly on the following sectors in the Eastern Cape : automotive industry, wood and wood-processing, infra-structural development for SDI projects like the Wild Coast, food processing and tourism.
The majority of participants will be from Austria and neighbouring countries. UN Agencies specialising in Trade and Investment have also indicated a keen interest in the conference.
The official delegation will also meet with the Government of Nieder Oesterreich to discuss the establishment of a "Lower Austria House" in the Eastern Cape which will entail not only the physical presence of the Lower Austrians in the province but also an integrated approach in their involvement in the Eastern Cape.
After the conference, the South African business delegation will visit Austrian companies with business interest in the Eastern Cape.
For further information please contact :
Mr Jacob Moatshe, Head of the Trade Section or Greta Buys, First Secretary at the Embassy in Vienna at telephone no : (43 1) 320 64 93, fax no : (43 1) 320 64 93 51 (e-mail : saembvie@ins.at)
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN
EMBASSY IN VIENNA
Pretoria
15 SEPTEMBER 1999