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Stofile meets Consuls General of African, European and Asian Countries
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE USE
 19 APRIL 2001

PREMIER STOFILE MEETS CONSULS GENERAL OF AFRICAN, EUROPEAN AND ASIAN COUNTRIES

Bisho - Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile says the future of the province looks very good. He says despite its high poverty and 
underdevelopment rates, the province has natural beauty and good citizenry which help her achieve economic growth rates that are not 
readily visible elsewhere.

Premier Stofile was up beat about the future of the Province while welcoming Consuls General from a number of European, African and South 
East Asian countries who came to introduce themselves and to improve cooperation with the Province on a range of development programmes and 
areas. The 12-member-strong delegation included the under-listed consuls general: Major General MR Pheto of Botswana, Dr Fatima Perestrello 
of Portugal, Jamila Eliasova of the Check Republic and Moeniroh Suradi of Indonesia, as well as consuls from France - Jean Christophe 
Belliard who is also a Dean of the European Union representatives in South Africa, Italy - Gianluca Grandi and the honourary consul of 
Portugal in East London - Fernando Alves.

"The province has a great potential to compete favourably with provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape", Premier Stofile said, 
citing the provinces economic growth rate of over three percent, and the improvement of productive use of land for agricultural purposes 
from three percent to 15 percent over the past three years. He also cited substantial investments made in the automobile manufacturing 
sector and opening of more international markets for automobile products in Japan and Asia. Other issues discussed included the Spatial 
Development Initiatives and Industrial Development Zones which are beginning to materialise as nodes for attractive investments in Coega, 
East London and the Wild Coast, working relations with traditional leadership and the improvement of the inter-state relations to reach the 
levels of contacts among the people of the affected countries.

The leader of the delegation Major General Pheto said: "the visit is intended to make a statement that we are available to the Eastern 
Cape." He said the responsibility of consulates is to ensure that the formal interstate relations develop to reach "people to people" 
relationship, citing that over 500 Botswana students are in a number of Eastern Cape educational institutions. Indonesian Consul General 
Suradi emphasise the significance of improving trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between the Eastern Cape and South Africa on the one 
hand and their respective countries on the other.

Also present at the meeting to introduce the consuls general to the Premier and the Executive Council were MECs for Education - Stone 
Sizani, Agriculture and Land Affairs - Max Mamase and Local Government Housing and Traditional Affairs as well as the Director General Dr 
Mvuyo Tom, Superintendent General for Finance Monde Tom and Permanent Secretary for Roads and Public Works Dumisani Mafu. The MEC also used 
the opportunity to find areas of greater cooperation and assistance which included curriculum and teacher development.

Issued: Communications Division - Office of the Premier
 Inquiries: Manelisi Wolela 082-4147768 / Mlungisi Ncame - Acting Head of International Relations in the Office of the Premier at 040-
6092415 / 083-4697250
E-mail Address: manelisi@otpmleg1.ecape.gov.za

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