Strengthening the Australia-Africa Partnership
Media release
5 February 2010
Trade Minister Simon Crean today signed a letter of intent with South Africa’s Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica to renew the Australia-South Africa climate change partnership.
The renewed three-year partnership will focus on joint activities including in the priority areas of climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector and greenhouse emissions reporting and monitoring.
It was also agreed that Australia and South Africa would have an exchange program on climate change policies and experiences – with a focus on clean coal technologies.
The signing in the capital Pretoria, came at the end of Mr Crean’s visit to South Africa where he promoted Australia’s trade, economic and strategic interests with Africa.
Speaking in Cape Town at the Mining Indaba conference, Mr Crean announced that Australia would provide $500,000 to four West African universities to support capacity building of the mining sector in West Africa.
"The Australian Government is committed to strengthening the relationship with Africa that has been neglected for too long. We want to substantially enhance engagement with the countries and regional institutions of Africa which is home to almost one billion people" Mr Crean said.
At the Mining Indaba conference, Mr Crean held bilateral meetings with Mining Ministers from South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana, Senegal, Eritrea and Namibia.
In his main address, Mr Crean said capacity building was a key part of the Australian trade agenda and a key element of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and PACER-Plus negotiations with Pacific nations."
"An emphasis on consulting and capacity building is part of the Australian brand and this is what we are bringing to Africa", Mr Crean said.
Mr Crean promoted the credentials of Australian Mining companies and noted current and prospective Australian mining investment in Africa is estimated at more than $20 billion, spread across 35 countries.
In Pretoria, Mr Crean discussed bilateral trade and economic issues and the need to work together to conclude the WTO Doha Round in 2010 with his counterpart, the Minister for Trade and Industry Rob Davies.
The Minister also held discussions with the Minister for Planning, Trevor Manuel, the Minister for Finance, Pravin Gordhan, the Minister for Economic Development Ebrahim Patel, as well as the Secretary-General of the African National Congress, Gwede Mantashe.
The Minister visited the campus of Monash South Africa and the BHP Billiton Corporate Social Responsibility project at the Giyani School in Soweto.
Throughout his visit Mr Crean welcomed South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including during his inspection of the Green Point stadium in Cape Town.
Media inquiries
- Mr Crean’s Office: (02) 6277 7420
- Departmental Media Liason: (02) 6261 1555