Incoming State visits by the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, Ms Maud Olofsson, and the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Matti Vanhanen, 16-18 March 2010
12 March 2010
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Tuesday 16 March 2010 receive the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, Ms Maud Olofsson at Tuynhuys in Cape Town.Ms Olofsson will be in South Africa on a working visit, to participate in the 6th South Africa-Sweden Bi-National Commission (BNC) scheduled for March 16-17, 2010.
The Bi-National Commission between South Africa and Sweden was established in the year 2000 and has since met in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
The priority areas for the 2010 BNC will be:
• To strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Sweden by consolidating the outcomes of the 2007 BNC.
• To focus further on broader economic relations, especially investment and rural development.
• To highlight the importance of climate change.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: 16-17 March 2010
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town
Programme:
16 March 2010
15h00: Photo opportunity at the entrance of Tuynhuys
15h20: Photo opportunity at the Opening Plenary Session of the BNC
19h00: Toast remarks during the Dinner, in honour of the Deputy Prime Minister
of Sweden
17 March 2010
15h30: Press Conference
On Thursday 18 March 2010, Deputy President Motlanthe will host the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Matti Vanhanen, who will be in South Africa on an official visit.
South Africa and Finland already have extensive trade and economic relations. The government of Finland recognized the importance of the reconstruction and development period in South Africa and their contribution in this regard has been sizeable. Finland also sees South Africa as playing a key role in the development of its relationship with the Sub-Saharan Africa.
Media is invited as follows:
Date: 18 March 2010
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town
Time: 09h30
Programme:
10h30: Silent Guard of Honour
10h45: Photo opportunity at the opening of the bilateral meeting
11h45: Press Conference
12h15: Toast remarks during the luncheon, in honour of the Prime Minister of
Finland
For comments please contact Vusi Mona on 082 047 2260
RSVP with Nthabiseng Rantau on 082 570 5503
Issued by The Presidency
Union Buildings
Tshwane
