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Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Fatima Hajaig to present keynote address
3 December 2008
South African Deputy Foreign Minister Fatima Hajaig will on Thursday, 4 December 2008, as chair of Southern African Development Community (SADC), present a keynote address at the opening session of the SADC regional stakeholders conference being hosted by the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) Secretariat.
Background
During the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in Lusaka in July 2001, African Heads of State and Government emphasised the need for Africa to take urgent and effective steps to avoid the marginalisation of the continent. Heads of State and Government wanted to ensure that Africa becomes an active partner in the emerging world economic order.
To this end, the summit adopted the New African Initiative, thereafter referred to as the Nepad, as the socio-economic development programme of the African Union (AU) aimed at regenerating and reviving the African continent.
As such, Nepad serves as a programme of the African Union that constitutes a philosophical framework, a vision and mission for Africa, the principles and values of which are an integral part of the union.
NEPAD aims to achieve poverty eradication, sustainable socio-economic development and growth, regional and continental integration, and gender mainstreaming.
The regional stakeholders' conference will review progress of the NEPAD projects currently underway and the way forward.
Media are invited to the opening plenary of the conference as follows:
Date: 4 December 2008
Time: 08h30 for 09h00
Venue: Auditorium, Development Bank of South Africa, 1258 Lever Road, Headway Hill, Midrand, Gauteng
Order of Proceedings for opening plenary
* Welcome, introductions and purpose of meeting
* Remarks by representative of Flemish Government
* Statement by: Dr Hesphina Rukato: Deputy CEO, Nepad Secretariat
* Opening Speech by the Guest of Honour: Deputy Foreign Minister Fatima Hajaig Chair of SADC
Enquiries:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
E-mail address: pillaim@foreign.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
3 December 2008