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03 July 2008
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa is to dispatch several infrastructure experts by the end of the month to the Democratic Republic of Congo to assist with water and sanitation projects.
This was announced by the Gauteng Office of the Premier on Thursday 03 July 2008 following the Gauteng Provincial Government two-day visit to the central African country.
“We will be sending teams of experts back to the DRC,” Simon Zwane, the Premier's spokesperson said.
“The first team will leave at the end of July and another team will leave three months later to help Katanga with water distribution and sanitation projects,” Zwane said.
The Gauteng Premier was accompanied by a strong business and political delegation from the province. The mission attended the inaugural Gauteng and Katanga Business Summit which began on 1 July 2008.
Said the Premier after the Summit :
“I am satisfied with the trip. The visit has managed to translate the Declaration of Intent signed in October between our two provinces for better co-operation in various areas – including the important economic and administrative spheres.”
The trip was organized by the Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA) and was aimed at “giving meaning to the twinning agreements signed last year between the two provincial administrations”.
Finance and Economic Development MEC, Paul Mashatile, said the trip was also aimed at consolidating the region's economy and encouraging closer co-operation.
“For us as Gauteng , the African continent remains our top priority in terms of investment and trade facilitation,” Mashatile said.
Among the business delegation were top business people such as mining magnate Patrice Motsepe and a host of Gauteng 's blue chip companies in the mining and exploration; construction; project management; financial services and project funding sectors. Also in the delegation was the Industrial Development Corporation which has been assisting South African based companies with project funding so that they can do business in the DRC.
With the country fresh from civil war and serious underdevelopment -- especially with basic economic infrastructure like roads, airports, electricity and power generation; Gauteng , the fourth largest economy on the continent becomes the obvious choice to spearhead the DRC recovery process.
For more information contact Simon Zwane on 082 551 9892
Issued by the Gauteng Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Provincial Government's portal at www.gautengonline.gov.za
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