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| Mpumalanga to sign pact in Egypt 16 May 2008 Mpumalanga Premier, Thabang Makwetla will lead a high level delegation on a trade mission to the Ismailia province of the Arab Republic of Egypt from the 17 May 2008 and returns on the 21 May 2008. The delegation accompanying the Premier will include the MEC for Local Government and Housing, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini; MEC for Economic Development and Planning, Mr Craig Padayachee; Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Park Agency (MTPA), Mr Abe Sibiya; Chief Executive Officer of Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Ms Nosizwe Nokwe; Chief Executive Officer of Mpumalanga Agricultural Development Corporation and other senior government officials. The visit forms part of the province's drive to advance the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) objectives through increasing flows and expanding investments within the African States, but also giving practical expression to cultural, political and social solidarity among members of the continent. Premier Makwetla will be met by the South Africa's Ambassador in Egypt, Mr Sonto Kudjoe and thereafter do a walk about on some of the world's renowned heritage site in Egypt. More importantly, Makwetla is expected to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Ismalian counterpart, Governor Major General Abdel L Fakharary. This is the first MoU that Mpumalanga province enters into with a North African State. The MOU is underpinned by the objectives of the General Agreement of Co-operation entered into between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of South Africa that led to the establishment of the Joint Bilateral Commission between the two states. The Mpumalanga - Ismalia MoU will focus on co-operation in tourism, agriculture, culture and sports, particularly the preparations for the 2010 soccer world cup. This MoU will be managed through a joint provincial technical committee consisting of officials from both provincial governments. According the agreement, the Premier and the governor are expected to meet at least once a year in order to provide political guidance and oversight on progress made and challenges encountered. Ismalia governorate, located 120 km from Cairo, is the capital of the Canal region where the Suez Canal University is established. According to census conducted in 1996, the estimated population was 715 000. Similar to Mpumalanga, the region is strengthening its position as a city of the future in tourism. The fields of investment are clothes, food industry, land cultivation, establishing tourism villages and crystal industries. Its fish catch amounts to 81,8 percent of the total figure of the country. Enquiries:
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