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Transport Minister Dullah Omar said today in Durban that exciting new developments had come out of the XXII PIARC World Road Congress, which ends on Saturday, 25 October.

In a bilateral meeting with Minister Omar on Friday, 24 October, United Kingdom Transport Minister David Jamieson accepted South Africa's request for assistance on road traffic management expertise in order to address the carnage on South Africa's roads.

Both Ministers have agreed that there is a need for the two countries to work together in exploring the latest methods and technical skills in an effort to decrease the country's high road fatality rate.

"We are happy to work with the people of South Africa in road traffic management solutions and also to assist in skills transfer and sharing of experiences," Mr Jamieson said.

Minister Omar said a delegation from the Department of Transport would visit the United Kingdom soon to exchange views with road safety experts and to inspect key road safety projects.

"We are very excited about this co-operation. We will send a team to learn and to draw some lessons on how best to manage our traffic. Critical will be the issue of an intelligent transport system - we would like to use technology more, to manage and coordinate our traffic on a daily basis."

A bilateral meeting was also held with Algeria's Minister of Transport, where it was decided to send an official transport delegation to the country to address bilateral issues.

The meetings were two of many that the Transport Minister had with Ministers and delegates of countries attending the PIARC World Road Congress, to share experiences and to find ways in which countries can co-operate with each other to address transport challenges.

The Minister also addressed the Canadian delegation at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry on co-operation and business opportunities between the two countries. A follow-up discussion was held with Canada's Under-Secretary of Transport concerning a Memorandum of Understanding. Canada has been instrumental in assisting the implementation and formation of the Railway Safety Regulator.

"We have a very good relationship with Canada. They are assisting our country in a number of ways. We also welcome the contribution made by Canada to this Congress."

Minister Omar also met African Ministers to explore regional co-operation and to share challenges and successes with colleagues from the continent. He held discussions with 20 visiting African Ministers and it was agreed that Africa's road infrastructure issues would be taken up in the various structures of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Southern African Development Community and the African Union.

Contact: Ndivhuwo Mabaya, 082 908 0054

Issued by: Ministry of Transport

24 October 2003