THE PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE SA-ALGERIA/TUNIS/EGYPT AND MOROCCO BINATIONAL COMMISSION

1 March 2001

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the appropriate departments involved in the Joint Bilateral Commissions (JBCs) with Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco, as well as the Binational Commission (BNC) with Algeria, met today to discuss the progress made thus far and the way forward.

President Mbeki's vision of an African Renaissance, which will be brought to fruition by means of the Millenium African Recovery Program (MAP), serves as the basis for South Africa's relations with North Africa, within the frameworks of the various JBC/BNCs.

All partners to the JBC/BNCs were informed that the JBC/BNCs need to be given content by means of definite plans of actions, i.e. projects that must be both implementable and that will have to be implemented during 2001/2002.

The JBC/BNCs with North Africa during 2001 will be held as follows:

• Tunisia: April 2001, in Tunis;
• Egypt: July 2001, in Cairo;
• Algeria: October/November 2001, in South Africa; and
• Morocco: Date still to be determined, in Rabat.

Companies interested in accompanying the official delegation, as part of the business delegation, are requested to contact either Ms Jacqueline Coetzer (012) 351 0442 or Mr Claude Byneveldt from the Department of Trade and Industry at (012) 310-1127 or via fax at (012) 322-0355.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs

For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
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