Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
28 November 2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is scheduled to lead a senior governmental delegation to participate in the Ministerial-level Preparatory Meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Japan from 2-4 December 2001.
The delegation includes among others the Director-General Sipho Pityana, Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu, Economic Advisor to the President and Acting DDG, Dr. Anil Sooklal. The Speaker of Parliament Dr. Frene Ginwala is also expected to attend the Preparatory meeting in her capacity as Chairperson of the Global Coalition for Africa.
The Preparatory Meeting will be co-chaired by Japan, the United Nations, World Bank and Global Coalition for Africa. The meeting will be attended by representatives of all 53 African countries, 11 countries in Asia, 23 donor countries, 38 international organisations.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is scheduled to make a presentation on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) to the Second Plenary Session of TICAD on 3 December 2001.
The TICAD Meeting will continue to prepare for TICAD III which is scheduled to take place at Head of State-level in 2003. South Africa participated in both TICAD I (1993) and TICAD II (1998) and will again participate in TICAD III which is to provide a discussion forum for Africa to review the issue of African development and to make proposals in this regard.
South Africa serves on the Extended TICAD Steering Committee and has participated, at senior official’s level, in two Extended TICAD Steering Committee Meetings (in New York) and one TICAD Preparatory Meeting (in Dakar, Senegal) in 2001.
The Preparatory Meeting will review the progress achieved so far in the TICAD process (as outlined in the Tokyo Agenda for Action in 1998) and endeavour to articulate a direction for the future TICAD process.
Poverty alleviation and economic development in Africa remain important objectives of the TICAD process. The enhancement of African ownership of the development process and the establishment of strong partnership with donor countries and African countries and effective use of ODA resources are essential elements of the TICAD process.
South Africa welcomes the opportunity of participating with important strategic developed partners such as Japan in initiatives such as the TICAD process. South Africa emphasises the importance of ensuring that the Japanese initiative continues to find synergy with and contribute to the New Partnership for African Development.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa