PREMIER DPREMIER MABUZA SIGNS BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR OF BARI REGION IN ITALY
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza yesterday [Monday, 04 May 2015] signed a bilateral agreement with the Governor of Puglia Region in Italy His Excellency Nichi Vendola.
The landmark agreement covers cooperation between the two provinces in areas of tertiary education, land and water management, agriculture, nature conservation, health and education.
Premier Mabuza said Mpumalanga would soon be sending students to study medicine in Puglia Italy and has invited qualified doctors from Puglia to come and practice in Mpumalanga province.
“We have a shortage of doctors in our hospitals and I have no doubt that Puglia which produces around 350 doctors per year can send some of their doctors to come and assist us in our hospitals,” said Premier Mabuza.
Governor Vendola said his province of Puglia was ready to help Mpumalanga province with issues of water management and environmental protection.
“We hope Mpumalanga will not make the same mistakes that we made in Italy in the past by focusing too much on development ignoring nature conservation. We are now paying the price for neglecting the environment. We think you and your province can learn a lot from us in water management and nature conservation especially because we have no rivers running through some parts our province yet we have learnt of how to conserve water,” said Governor Vendola.
Premier Mabuza said the agreement was the beginning of a long journey that would live long after the two men had left their political positions. He said that the two provinces would soon set up a joint committee that will facilitate and coordinate these areas of cooperation so that the agreement becomes a living document.
At the same time, Agriculture Rural Development Land and Environmental Affairs MEC Andries Gamede signed an agreement with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM).
This agreement will lead to cooperation between Mpumalanga Province Department of Agriculture and the Centre in the areas of food security, rural development and agriculture in general.
Mpumalanga will be sending graduate students to do their Masters Degrees in scientific research on agriculture.
“We are impressed with the work of the Centre especially in areas of education, technical training, scientific research, food security women and rural development. These issues resonate with our needs and challenges that we are facing as a young democracy” said Premier Mabuza.
Dr Cosimo Laciirignola of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies assured Premier Mabuza that the Centre was prepared to assist the province through agricultural skills development, knowledge management and information sharing.
The 50-year-old agricultural research centre had its membership from countries that are within the Mediterranean region in Africa and in Europe. It has since opened its membership even to other countries that are not necessarily in that region.
Dr Lacirignola said South Africa was a key player in the African region and therefore working with Mpumalanga Province would assist them in reaching to other African countries that are neighbouring South Africa. Over and above offering training, the centre also contributes to intercultural dialogue.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
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