UNION BUILDINGS - 26 APRIL 2000
"CREATING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT"
Vice President Atiku Abubakar High Commissioner, Dr Olagunji High Commissioner Sifingo Governor Alhaji Adamu Aliero All Minister present Government Officials
As we joint hands once again to strengthen the relationship that was initiated between our two countries in Abuja in 1999, allow me to extend the warmest welcome to you and your delegation.
Your presence here today is one more step towards achieving the goals that we the African people have set for ourselves for this country, to take our rightful place in the international community of nations.
It represents the continuing commitment of our two countries and their leaders to meaningfully advance and hasten the transformation and reconstruction of our countries and our continent.
Your Excellency, this Second Binational Commission meeting holds special significance for us as we are meeting on the eve of our Freedom day celebrations. Tomorrow you will join me and our President in Bloemfontein where we will be officially launching our new National Coat of Arms that reflects the new values of our democracy and our unity in diversity.
When we met last yar at the Inaugural Session of this Binational Commission we set ourselves the task of harnessing the abundant resources that both our countries have for the betterment of our people. We are meeting again this year to give concrete content to the special relationship between our two countries in order to ensure a measurable improvement of the quality of life of our people.
The vote of confidence expressed in the heads of state of our countries by the nations of the South at the recent South-South Summit, reflects the high esteem in which our two nations are held, but even more important reflects many expectations of us to provide leadership in the challenges that face developing nations.
South Africa and Nigeria have begun to develop a structured relationship in a number of key areas, which seek to benefit our two countries and the Africa as a whole. In this regards we have seen a significant increase in co-operation and trade between our two countries over the last year in particular.
This would not have been possible if it was not for the historic advent of democracy in our two countries. This is underpinned and sustained by a strong human rights culture and values which constitute a dominant feature of our democratic transformations. We have shown that democracy, an essential ingredient to achieve sustainable development, can work in Africa.
What remains now is for us to finalise the necessary agreements to create an enabling environment for the furthering and strengthening of economic, cultural and political ties between our two countries. There exists already a number of agreements to co-operate in various areas, among others Agriculture, Minerals and Energy, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry and Public Enterprises.
In the intervening period since our last meeting, agreements have been reached to co-operate and collaborate in a number of areas between the parastatals of our two countries as well as the private sector. The call on business to invest and expad activities has been taken up admirably.
What remains now is for us as government to respond in equal measure and move faster to create the environment for them to operate in. We must ensure that agreements are reached timeously and implemented expeditiously.
I therefore urge all our officials to be creative in finding ways to overcome any obstacles that may retard progress. Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion let us remind ourselves that our deliberations over the next few days need to result in the attainment of sustainable development efforts geared towards the alleviation and eradication of poverty in our societies. Once more I would like to welcome you to our beautiful country. I hope that your stay here will be a memorable one.
Thank you.