Speech delivered by the Mpumalanga MEC for Economic
Development, Environment and Tourism, Mr Jabu L Mahlangu, during the annual
conference of the North Rhine Westphalia Forum, Bundu Lodge, Drum rock, Mbombela
municipality
13 April 2010
Programme director
The Leader of the North Rhine Westphalia delegation, Dr Huls
Representatives of the North Rhine Westphalia civil society
Delegates from various government departments
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I am humbled and honoured to address the annual conference of the North
Rhine Westphalia Mpumalanga Forum, an important forum during which we will
collectively agree on strategies that are aimed at continuing to improve the
lives of our people.
As the ruling ANC-led government, we have committed to "speed up
effective service delivery to the people", a commitment which we believe that
working together with interested and caring social partners like yourself, we
will be able to fulfil.
We continue to appreciate the significant contribution made by your
government by contributing towards our dream of "a better life for all" the
people of this province through the implementation of the memorandum of
understanding with the government of North Rhine Westphalia.
Since 2001, we have collaborated to craft a path towards "a better life
for all" by coming up with projects, programmes and cooperation areas as equal
partners. I had an opportunity of meeting with the delegation from North Rhine
Westphalia yesterday and was encouraged by some of the ideas and work you
continue to do in putting the cooperation agreement into motion.
Let me inform you that our government continues to regard our agreement
with you, as a cornerstone of real development cooperation which also continues
to improve south to north relations, as required by our common global challenges
and the mandates from the global community since the Millennium Summit and other
global agenda on sustainable development.
Last year during my visit to Germany during the event of the Bonn
International Conference on Development Cooperation and Aid Effectiveness, I was
touched by the common vision which the people of Germany shares with us.
Our challenges in the province are huge, but surmountable, only because
we do not walk alone, but walk with a partner who can be trusted. Our biggest
challenge post the economic recession, is to speed up growth, create more job
opportunities, decent work and sustainable livelihood.
In operating the memorandum of understanding, you selflessly continue
to contribute on areas of arts, rural development, poverty reduction and
initiatives to fight HIV and AIDS and this is highly applauded. Please continue
with the same zeal, for our people deserve the best. Any contribution regardless
of its size plays a crucial role towards realising the vision and commitments of
our caring government.
Our exchange programme is an important instrument to learn more about
each other and to have a real intercultural exchange between our people. Our
youth wake up daily with new hope, knowing that they are worth more than they
were yesterday.
As a rural province, the work in agricultural development and farmer
support is making us produce more and better food, and empower the small scale
farmers to become better business people. We will continue to tap into this area
of cooperation, as we accelerate our rural development strategy and
interventions in the province.
We hope that our cooperation agreement will go a long towards assisting
our government to realise its election promises, given that this a people's
contract we commit never to renege on. We continue to intensify our fight
against tuberculosis (TB), HIV and AIDS and believe that you will continue to
play a significant role in this regard.
Having listened to you presentations and summary briefings yesterday, I
remain confident that the process you are about to engage in will deliver us a
programme to 2013 that is ambitious, focused and implementable. We are looking
forward to a comprehensive implementation plan in the identified themes and
priority areas, and call upon you to continue to look for new opportunities for
cooperation.
May I take this opportunity to congratulate the coordinators on both
side especially Ms Judy Greathead, who had to ensure that the cooperation
agreement is implemented, yet on the other side she carried on with her duties
in preparing for the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches in Mpumalanga.
The chief executive officer and the representative members and
organisations of the Mpumalanga Forum in North Rhine Westphalia have continued
to dedicate most of their energy to this project and to a province they owe no
allegiance to, for that we thank you.
Through the Office of the Premier and the designated cooperation focal
point, we will as a government make sure that this cooperation programme
receives the necessary support it requires and we will make sure that our
agencies, municipalities and public servants offer you the appropriate tools to
fast track and add value to your projects.
You should leave this conference with new ideas, but better and more
achievable and you should before you return to Germany, take a short left and
tour Mpumalanga. The nearest Kruger national Park gate is 20 minutes away,
Maputo is an hour's drive from here and so is Swaziland and you are in the host
city for the 2010 FIFA world Cup. What more can you demand?
I wish you a fruitful and successful conference.
I thank you!
Issued by: Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism
