France bestows Knight of the National Order of Merit on Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson

11 Jun 2012

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has been bestowed the highest order by the French Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Rural Policy, Mr Bruno Le Maire in recognition of the "services she has rendered to agriculture".

The "Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole" or Knight of the National Order of Merit Agricol was bestowed by decree of 29 February 2012.

The Minister's achievements have been visible in the agriculture sector, following an 8.8% employment growth. Additionally, the Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Quarter 1, 2012) recorded the creation of 656 000 employment opportunities in the agriculture sector in the last two quarters of 2011 and first quarter of 2012. For a sector that's been losing jobs since the 1970s, the growth in this sector demonstrates a positive turn.

The Office of the Minister and Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries join in on congratulating the Minister on a job well done.

Statement issued by Ms Palesa Mokomele, Media Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, June 11 2012

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