BuaNews (Tshwane)
Michael Appel
27 February 2008
Pretoria — South Africa is looking forward to signing a number of bilateral agreements with France during a state visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy this week.
"The intention is that there is a number of bilateral agreements that will be signed, some of them are works in progress and will depend on the outcome of the discussions," said Foreign Affairs Director General Gert Grobler on Tuesday.
President Sarkozy is due to arrive on Thursday accompanied by his wife, former supermodel Carla Bruni and some 40 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from major French companies.
The delegation will sign an array of bilateral agreements aimed at further strengthening relations between the two countries.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Union Buildings, Mr Grobler said there was proposed agreements on science cooperation, transport agreements, energy, the Kyoto Protocol and a tourism agreement.
There is also a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) which is to be signed.
"President Sarkozy has in the months that he's been in power, spoken often about Africa and has said France will continue to be Africa's resolute advocate in Europe...and that Africa will remain a priority of France's foreign policy," said Mr Grobler regarding France taking the helm of the European Union (EU) later this year.
France is also a key global player and permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Mr Sarkozy has said France is committed to helping Africa achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and this did not necessarily mean more aid.
The MDGs are a set of goals which aim to halve poverty, stop the spread of HIV and AIDS and provide primary education by 2015.
Within this context, South Africa will be looking to further engage with France on a number of international issues of safety and security including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chad, Sudan, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
"South Africa and France enjoy cordial and close relations characterised by regular high level dialogue, diverse bilateral cooperation programmes and growing bilateral trade.
"France has a high regard for President Thabo Mbeki's work on the continent and South Africa is regarded as a capable and credible interlocutor in promoting in promoting peace, stability and development on the continent," said Mr Grobler.
France is the largest donor and trading partner to Africa and is an increasing major investor on the continent.
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka visited France in October last year where the ground work was laid for much closer cooperation in the area of JIPSA skills development, said Mr Grobler.
He added that a formal MoU was now ready to be signed during President Sarkozy's visit.
Bilateral trade between South Africa and France totalled some R26 billion in 2006 and 2007, with the trade balance favouring France.
Mr Grobler said South Africa will be looking to increase and diversify exports to that country.
There is currently about 160 French companies in South Africa including massive industry players like Renault and Lafarge.
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