9 July 2000
South African Minister of Transport, Dr Abdulah Omar, has completed a two day visit to Italy, during which he was accompanied by his Director General, Mr. Sipho Msikinya. The trip has served to further strengthen relations with Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), the South African government's strategic partner and a shareholder of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the company that manages the country's leading airports.
As major shareholders of ACSA, Minister Omar and ADR's Managing Director, Gaetano Galia, declared their common desire to see an acceleration in the pace of implementing the Shareholders Agreement, and the development of the services offered to passengers and airlines at South Africa's principal domestic and international airports, along with expanded retail and real estate activities.
The South African Transport Minister expressed his particular appreciation of ADR's commitment to improving the professional skills and expertise of local personnel, thanks to training and development initiatives undertaken by ADR in line with the aims of the National Black Economic Empowerment program.
In accordance with existing agreements between the South African government and ADR, its has also been decided to set up a joint committee consisting of major shareholder representatives from each party, in order to speed up implementation of the undertakings given and establish a plan for ACSA's future development.
The General Meeting of ACSA's shareholders, to be held in Johannesburg on August 8, will set out the challenges that lie ahead for the Board of Directors and the company's management team with greater emphasis on airport related functions whilst consolidating property and retail operations.
A broader transport cooperation agreement entered into between the South African and Italian governments will also be submitted to Cabinet and Parliament for ratification before the end of the year. Minister Omar also took the opportunity during his visit to invite the Italian Transport Minister to attend the official opening of the new duty free area at Johannesburg International airport, expected to take place in early October.
Issued by Mike Mabasa
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Transport,
Cape Town
083 680 7048
09 July 2000