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| SA, Nigeria celebrate 10 years of Bi-National Commission
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Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) -
South Africa and Nigeria were this week celebra
ting the 10th anniversary of their
Bi-National Commission (BNC), with South Africa's Deputy President Kgalema Motla
nthe and his Nigerian counterpart, Goodluck
Jonathan, jointly hosting a series of activities in South Africa starting Monday
.
After this week's activities in South Africa, which round up Thursday, the train
will move to Nigeria for another set of commemorative
activities 12-14 November.
The planned BNC activities are premised within the broader framework of promotin
g trade and investment in the African
continent as well as enhancing people to people cooperation and institution buil
ding between South Africa and Nigeria.
With regard to trade, exports and imports flows between South Africa and Nigeria
registered substantial growth over the period 1999 to 2007,
from R181,3578,000 to almost R11 billion in 2007 (US$=R7.47).
This increase in growth can be attributed to an increase in the demand for energ
y resources in South Africa; hence 98% of imports from Nigeria are
crude oil.
Most notably is the fact that, prior to 1999, there were only four South African
companies in Nigeria.
Since 1999, the situation has changed dramatically, with over 100 companies curr
ently doing business in Nigeria.
Activities to commemorate the 10th Year Anniversary of the South Africa-Nigeria
BNC will include a Business Round
Table; Academic activities; Trade Fair; Sporting Activities; Arts and Culture; F
ashion Week; Civil Society Seminars; Gala Dinner;
Joint Parliamentary activities and a Women and Youth Forum.
The theme of the celebrations is "South Africa - Nigeria Bi-National Commission:
Celebrating 10 Year Anniversary'', and it is
aimed at highlighting and projecting the noble objectives of the milestone.
During the First Review Council meeting between the former Deputy President of S
outh Africa, Baleka Mbete, and Nigeria's Vice
President Jonathan in Pretoria on 9 December 2008, an agreement was reached that
South Africa and Nigeria will mark this milestone (10 years) of the
BNC, with a view to further consolidate the already strong bilateral relations t
hat exist between the two countries.
The BNC was borne out of a commitment by South Africa and Nigeria to effectively
structure bilateral relations through the
establishment of a Bi-National Commission between them.
The inaugural session of the BNC was held in Abuja from 4 to 5 October 1999, und
er the co-chairmanship of the Former Deputy and Vice President of South
Africa and Nigeria, respectively.
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| Cape Town - 26/10/2009 |
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