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The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, paid a working visit to Italy from 1 to 3 October 2003. On 1 October, Minister Ngubane attended the opening of the African Arts Exhibition in Turin at the invitation of the Mayor of Turin, Dr Sergio Chiamparino.

This exhibition was promoted by the City of Turin and received the patronage of the President of Italy and the Italian Foreign Ministry. The Minister of Culture of Mozambique, Mr Miguel Mkaima, was also a guest of honour and delivered the opening speech in the capacity of Mozambique's chairmanship of the African Union.

The event also included a gala dinner hosted by the Mayor of Turin during which Minister Ngubane was guest of honour.

On 2 October, Minister Ngubane attended the Information Society Technologies (IST) Conference 2003 in Milan. Minister Ngubane was invited to the conference by the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Information Society, Mr Erkki Liikanen.

During the course of the conference, Minister Ngubane held private meetings with Commissioner Liikanen; with his Italian counterpart, the Minister for Innovation and Technologies, Mr Lucio Stanca; as well as with the President of the Lombardy Region, Dr Roberto Formigoni.

A delegation from the Department of Science and Technology joined Minister Ngubane during his bilateral meetings and also participated in workshops surrounding the IST Conference. The delegation comprised of Dr Mandi Mzimba, Senior Science and Technology Representative accredited to the South African Mission to the EU in Brussels; Mr Johan Eksteen, Acting Director of the Information and Communication Technology Division of the CSIR; Mr Duncan Martin, Chief Executive Officer of South African Tertiary Education Network (TENET); and Mr Daan du Toit, Manager: Strategic Partnerships, Department of Science and Technology.

It will be recalled that South Africa and Italy entered into an agreement on co-operation in the fields of arts, culture, education and sport in March 2002. South Africa and Italy also signed a scientific agreement on scientific and technological cooperation in 1998.

Minister Ngubane's participation in the events in Turin and Milan were aimed at deepening South Africa's relations with Italy and the EU in the areas of arts, culture, science and technology. The IST Conference, in particular, will give further impetus to the activities earmarked in the bilateral agreement with Italy as well as within the framework of South Africa/EU cooperation.

During his visit, Minister Ngubane was accompanied by the South African Ambassador to Italy, Mr Lenin Shope, the South African Consul-General in Milan, Mr Alwyn Figgins, and the Director in the Office of Minister Ngubane, Ms Renah Lusiba.

For more information please contact Nhlanhla Nyide on (012) 337 8555 or 082 871 6767

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology

2 October 2003