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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 co-operation 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 honorary 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 province's 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 co-operation and assistance, which included curriculum and teacher development.

Contact: Manelisi Wolela at 082-4147768/Mlungisi Ncame at 040-6092415/083 4697250

Issued by Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape

19 April 2001