ANC PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS FORUM DELEGATION VISITS RUSSIA
The ANC's Progressive Business Forum (PBF) has returned from Russia on its very first visit to the Russian Federation, with a delegation of some 50 South African business representatives. The visit included the major Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg and took place last week.
The delegation to Russia was accompanied by the ANC Secretary General, Mr. Gwede Mantashe, the ANC Treasurer General, Dr. Zweli Mkhize and the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Obed Bapela (Who is also the Chairperson of the ANC's Committee on International Relations). The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Senzo Mchunu, who was visiting Moscow at the same time for other commitments and also attended a special media briefing for the delegation.
The delegation arrived in Moscow on 1 October 2013, and were able to network with a delegation from KwaZulu-Natal led by Premier Mchunu, which was involved in an exhibition in Moscow at the same time.
With the direct involvement of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, the delegation met on Tuesday, 2 October 2013 at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia. The delegation was briefed by the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Rinat Gizatulin, who addressed the delegation, and who pointed out the significant interest Russia had in doing business with South Africa. In welcoming the delegation, Deputy Minister Gizatulin said, inter alia, that in recent months Russia had sought to focus on any contribution it might be able to make to the challenges of power generation in South Africa.
In his response, Secretary General Mantashe, thanked the Russian side for the meeting and spoke also of the historic links between Russia and South Africa in its struggle for democracy. This history and the level of the relations between the two countries, made the visit of South African business people, an ideal opportunity to add even further substance and economic content to the relations, Secretary General Mantashe said. He added that the ANC Progressive Business Forum was a powerful vehicle for added impetus for bringing businesses from both sides together to explore business opportunities together.
Subsequent speakers from the Russian side included Mr. Nuritidin Inamov, Head of the Department of International Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Nikolay Krasilnikov, of the Political and Legal and Contractual Relations Division of the Russian Foreign Ministry as well as Mr. Vladimir Padalko, Director of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
From the Russian business side, speakers who delivered presentations represented the fields of maritime and ship building, machine building and mining, banking and finance (Vneshekonombank), transportation and production.
The South African business side was introduced by PBF Co-Convenor, Mr. Renier Schoeman, who thanked the Russian Natural Resources and Environment Ministry for hosting the meeting and who pointed out the significant international reach of the PBF as it sought to reach out between businesses across the world and to put them in touch with their equivalent businesses in South Africa.
In his remarks to the meeting, Deputy Minister Bapela in his capacity as Chair of the ANC Committee in International Relations, spoke on the opportunities presented in South Africa with the National Development Plan (NDP) designed to address the future development of South Africa for the years ahead. It was this NDP which could provide the additional context of enhanced business relations between South Africa and the Russian Federation, Deputy Minister Bapela said. He urged the delegations of both countries to strive toward practical steps to give effect to these enhanced business relations and encouraged the business representatives to acquaint themselves fully with the opportunities the NDP offered, to the benefit of the people of South Africa and of Russia
Premier Mchunu, then delivered his remarks and he focussed on ensuring real and practical business opportunities between the two countries (and KwaZulu-Natal) and encouraged both delegations to be resourceful and bold in their business dealings.
Co-Convenor Schoeman invited members of the South African business delegation to speak to the meeting about their areas of expertise and interest - speakers from the South African side spoke inter alia from the fields of ship building, fisheries, transport, mining, construction and energy. Concluding the South African presentations, Co-Convenor Schoeman said that the South African businesses had made positive inputs and proposals and he encouraged both sides to take up the matters addressed with the Russian delegates as to move their proposals forward, in which he was strongly supported by Mr. Vladimir Serik of the Russian Department of Economic Development.
The South African delegation also held joint PBF/Chamber meetings at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia in Moscow on Thursday, 3 October 2013 and then with the St. Petersburg Chamber, in St. Petersburg on Friday, 4 October 2013.
NOTE:
During the course of the visit to Moscow, Secretary General Mantashe and Deputy Minister Bapela, laid wreaths at the graves of South African luminaries, Moses Kotane and J.B. Marks. The full delegation also visited these grave sites at the foot of the famous Moscow Novodevichy Monastery, and earlier signed an MOU between the ANC and the ruling party of Moscow.
Statement issued by Renier Schoeman, ANC Progressive Business Forum Co-Convenor, October 9 2013
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