SOUTH AFRICAS STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

1
SOUTH AFRICAS STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS IN WEST AND
CENTRAL AFRICA


2
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

• Regional responsibility
• Cape Verde, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia,
  Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra
  Leone, Cote dIvoire, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana,
  Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of Congo
  (Brazzaville), Equatorial Guinea, Central African
  Republic, Gabon and Sao Tome Principe.

3
REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Undergoing political transition.
• Developing democratic institutions.
• Grappling with national unity, reconciliation.
• Embarking upon programmes of economic reform and
  liberalisation.
  
• Engaged in process to diversify economy.
• Face major social development challenges
  particularly with regards to health and
  education, poverty and underdevelopment.

4
Federal Republic of NIGERIA

• The South Africa - Nigeria BNC is the flagship of
  South Africas constructive engagement with both
  Nigeria the West African region.
  
• SA established a Bi-National Commission with the
  Federal Republic of Nigeria in October 1999.
  
• The SA-Nigeria BNC is at Deputy Presidential /
  Vice Presidential level.
  

5
Federal Republic of NIGERIA

• The BNC sessions are convened annually.
• Nigeria is South Africas strategic partner in
  the West Africa region and the continent in the
  pursuance of the objectives of the African Agenda
  and South South Co-operation.
• The BNC is structured utilising different Working
  Groups that are sector specific. Working Groups
  have been constituted as follows

6
Federal Republic of NIGERIA

• Trade, Industry Finance
• Minerals Energy Working Group
• Agriculture, Water Resources the Environment
  Working Group
  
• Foreign Affairs Co-operation Working Group
• Committee on Defence (Due to be upgraded to a
  Security Working Group at the forthcoming 7th
  session of the BNC)
  
• Sub-committee on Immigration, Justice and
  Anti-crime
  
• Social Technical Working Group
• Public Enterprises and Infrastructure Working
  Group
  
• The BNC is also comprised of a Special
  Implementation Committee which assesses the
  implementation of agreed upon projects,
  challenges with regard to implementation and
  gives advice to WGs.

7
Federal Republic of NIGERIA

• The main objective of the Bi-national Commission
  is to lay a firm foundation for co-operation and
  partnership between both countries within the
  broader objectives the African Union.
• 20 Agreements have been signed by both countries
  with regard to the different areas of interest of
  the BNC structure.

8
Federal Republic of NIGERIA

• Total trade (2004/05)Exports to Nigeria R2.9
  billion, Imports to Nigeria R5 billion.
  
• Major transaction concluded by South African
  Companies includes MTN, SAA NEW METRO, etc

9
Federal Republic of NIGERIA

• Way Forward on SA - Nigeria BNC
• Ratification of all outstanding Agreements
• Implementation of decisions of 6th session the
  SIC meeting decisions (05-06 May 2005)
  
• Preparations for the 7th session of BNC
• Appointment of Lead Departments
• Restructuring of BNC Committees (Security Working
  Group)
  
• Streamlining communication between
  Departments/Stakeholders,Desk,Mission.
  

10
Republic of GHANA

• SA-Ghana Joint Commission of Co-operation
• The SA - Ghana JCC is held at Foreign Minister
  level.
  
• The inaugural session is due to take place during
  the second half of 2005.
  
• Different Departments, especially DTI and the
  Minerals Energy Department, will form working
  groups so as to enable SA to accomplish the
  objectives of the JCC.

11
Republic of GHANA

• One of South Africas staunchest supporters in
  West Africa
  
• Strong supporter of NEPAD
• Many SA companies have opened offices.
• Merging of Anglogold and Ashanti Gold has created
  one of the largest gold mining companies in the
  world.
  
• SA exports to Ghana were R1,243 billion, while
  imports were R64 million during 2004.
  
• Ghana plays a strong supportive role in peace
  keeping and conflict resolution.
  

12
Republic of GHANA

• Way Forward on SA - Ghana JCC
• Launch JCC in 2005
• Expand trade and investment
• Finalise Cultural Cooperation Agreement
• Explore cooperation in the Justice, Education and
  Tourism fields.
  

13
Republic of SENEGAL

• The SA - Senegal JCBC is to be held at Foreign
  Minister level.
  
• The inaugural session is due to take place during
  the second half of 2005 in Pretoria.
  
• Different departments will form working groups so
  as to enable SA to accomplish the objectives of
  the JCBC.
  

14
Republic of SENEGAL

• Following SAAs unilateral cancellation in March
  2003 of its joint venture with Nigeria Airways on
  the Johannesburg-New York route, the company
  relocated its stop-over point on that route from
  Lagos to Dakar.
• SAA currently has daily flights from Johannesburg
  to Dakar and three flights a week from Dakar to
  Johannesburg.
  
• During 2004 SA exports to Senegal stood at R211
  million while imports were at a low R5 million

15
Republic of SENEGAL

• Way Forward on SA - Senegal JCBC
• Inaugural session of the JCBC to be held.
• Focus on trade, investment, transport, public
  enterprises, immigration, education, culture,
  tourism, sport, gender issues.
  

16
Republic of MALI

• SA-Mali JCC
• The SA - Mali JCC is held at Foreign Minister
  level.
  
• The second session of the JCC will be convened in
  Mali in 2006.
  

17
Republic of MALI

• Two major South African gold mining companies are
  present in Mali, Anglogold and Rand gold
  
• Eskom Enterprises was successful in winning the
  international bid in July 2001 for the
  hydro-electrical generation project in
  Manantali.
• Manantali is a joint initiative between the
  governments of Mali who will receive 51 of the
  output, Senegal 34 and Mauritania 15.

18
Republic of MALI

• Spoornet has been approached by the Malian and
  Senegalese governments with regard to the
  possible purchase of second-hand locomotives and
  passenger cars to be used on the rehabilitated
  Dakar-Bamako railway line.
• South African exports to Mali totalled to R177,6
  million in 2003 and imports stood at R6,8 million
  during the same year.

19
Republic of MALI

• Way Forward on SA-Mali JCC
• Preparation for 2nd session of JCC in Bamako
  during 2006
  
• Implementation of decision taken and commitments
  made during the August 2004 1st session.
  

20
Republic of GABON

• The SA - Gabon JCC is held at Foreign Minister
  level.
  
• The JCC was established by the General
  Co-operation Agreement that was signed between
  the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 26
  November 2003.
• The inaugural session is due to take place during
  the last quarter of the year.
  
• Different Departments, especially DTI and the
  Minerals Energy Department, will form working
  groups so as to enable SA to accomplish the
  objectives of the JCC.

21
Republic of GABON

• Other Agreements signed with Gabon
• Agreement on Tourism Co-operation was also signed
  on 26
  
• November 2003.
• The following Agreements were signed on 22 March
  2005
  
• during the visit by the Acting Gabonese Minister
  of Foreign
  
• Affairs
• Trade
• Avoidance of Double Taxation
• Regular Diplomatic Consultations

22
Republic of GABON

• Importance of JCC with Gabon
• Gabon is an important political role-player in
  the Central African region.
  
• Immense business opportunities in Gabon for SA
  businesspeople and visa versa.
  
• SA imports from Gabon were R164,6 million, while
  exports to Gabon stood at R150,9 million during
  2004.
  

23
Republic of GABON

• Way forward for SA - Gabon JCC
• The inaugural session is due to take place during
  the last quarter of 2005.
  
• Increase volume of two way trade between the two
  countries.
  
• Implementation of existing commitments. These
  include
  
• Libreville Waterfront and Tourist Gateway Project
  
  
• Housing project
• Gold mining project
• Manganese mining project

24
Republic of CONGO

• The SA - ROC JCC is held at Foreign Minister
  level.
  
• Was established by the signing of General
  Co-operation Agreement between two Ministers of
  Foreign Affairs on 25 November 2003.
  
• The inaugural session is due to take place during
  the last quarter of the year.
  
• Different Departments will form working groups to
  enable both parties to achieve objectives of the
  JCC.

25
Republic of CONGO

• Importance of SA - ROC JCC
• ROC is emerging from conflict.
• Opportunities exist to assist with the
  reconstruction and development of the country.
  
• This can provide many opportunities for SA
  businesspeople in the following sectors
  
• Mining
• Oil
• Agriculture
• Transport
• Currently volumes of trade are low with SA
  importing goods to the value of R86 million and
  exporting goods worth R262 million during 2004.

26
Republic of CONGO

• Way forward for SA - ROC JCC
• Signing of all outstanding agreements covering
  Trade, Investment, Taxation, Transport and
  Health.
  
• Prepare for President Mbekis State Visit in
  September 2005.
  
• Inauguration of JCC before the end of 2005.

27
Republic of EQUATORIAL GUINEA

• SA - Equatorial Guinea JCC was established by the
  General Co-operation Agreement that was signed
  between the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 1
  December 2003.

28
Republic of EQUATORIAL GUINEA

• SA to host senior officials from Equatorial
  Guinea before the end of 2005 to discuss
  co-operation in the following areas
  
• Trade and Investment
• Transport
• Minerals and Energy
• Health
• Environmental Affairs and Tourism
• Agriculture
• Communications

29
Republic of EQUATORIAL GUINEA

• Importance of relations with Equatorial
• Guinea
• Equatorial Guinea is third largest oil producer
  in Africa.
  
• Apart from oil itself, there are many business
  opportunities related to the development of the
  oil industry.
  
• Volume of trade still very low SA imports at
  R4,4 million, exports at R65,5 million during
  2004.
  
• Way forward for SA - Equatorial Guinea JCC
• Host senior officials from Equatorial Guinea
  before the end of 2005.
  

30
Democratic Republic ofSAO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPÉ

• General Co-operation Agreement signed between two
  Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 9 April 2005.
  
• Agreement makes provision for regular
  consultations between senior officials.
  

31
Democratic Republic ofSAO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPÉ

• Importance of relations with Sao Tomé and
• Principé
• Sao Tomé and Principé has great potential as
  future oil producer.
  
• Also potential in area of tourism.
• Currently trade volumes are low SA imports only
  R160 000 while exports are at R16,4 million.
  

32
Democratic Republic of SAO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPÉ

• Way forward for relationship with Sao Tomé
• and Principé
• Arrange meeting between senior officials of two
  countries before end of 2005.

33
Republic of CHAD

• SA and Chad signed a General Co-operation
  Agreement in December 2004.
  
• SA has placed an official in Ndjamena to further
  bi-lateral relations, especially in terms of the
  Co-operation Agreement and with respect to
  involvement in the oil industry in Chad.
• SA expects to host Chadian officials over the
  next few months to begin the implementation of
  the Co-operation Agreement.
  
• Trade volumes also low SA imports at R8 000, and
  exports at R18,9 million during 2004.

34
Republic of CHAD

• Way forward with the Republic of Chad.
• There is much potential for future co-operation
  with Chad, especially in the fields of transport
  and communications.
  
• Chad to open an Embassy in South Africa in the
  near future.

35
CHALLENGES

• Coordination at centre and with other spheres of
  government.
  
• Strengthening capacity of partner departments.
• Implementation of projects.
• Obtaining funding for projects.
• Streamlining of work of Commissions.
• Integration of work of Commissions in to
  Departmental programmes.