Pretoria - The visiting Minister-President of Germany's Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, has committed to encourage more German companies to get involved in projects that will ensure South Africa hosts a successful FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Minister-President Günther Oettinger's remarks follow his meeting Monday with South Africa's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Pretoria.
He is on a week-long official visit aimed at strengthening the existing bilateral ties with South Africa and to look into the preparations for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Mr Oettinger told reporters that the German delegation would visit construction sites of stadia to assess progress there.
Germany hosted a successful world cup in 2006, pioneering amongst other things, the concept of Fan Parks, which South Africa has already adopted ahead of the games.
He explained that there were already a number of German companies that were involved in construction projects for the soccer extravaganza in South Africa, adding that he would encourage more to join in.
"We are going to make our own assessment of the progress in the construction of stadia.
"I will encourage companies from Baden-Württemberg to use this opportunity - we are in fact here to open doors for them and to make contact [in the industry]," said Minister-President Oettinger.
Also linked to the soccer tournament, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said the two parties discussed opportunities in tourism.
"Because of the soccer tournament we see a unique opportunity to increase tourism, we see an opportunity to encouraged expertise from Germany in project management of these large projects that are part of infrastructure within and outside the tournament," said the Deputy President.
The German delegation also recommitted itself to do more to assist South Africa with the much-needed training of artisans, engineers, and education and health workers, amongst others.
"We looked at cooperation in relation to the training of artisans and engineers - something that is already happening - we are going to look at how to expand that. We also looked at cooperation in the support and training of health professionals; and the support and exchange of artisans both at training level and professionals.
"In particular we have asked them to assist us with the strengthening of the capacity of training in our Further Education and Training [FET] collages which are new tertiary vocational training colleges where we do not have a lot of experience in training," explained the Deputy President.
Mr Oettinger said his delegation would use the trip to draw up a precise plan for cooperation with South Africa.
The meeting also looked into ways in which German companies could source agricultural products from South Africa.
In that regard, Mr Oettinger has invited Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana to visit Baden-Württemberg to brief business leaders there about South Africa's agriculture sector and its products.
Minister-President Günther Oettinger's remarks follow his meeting Monday with South Africa's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Pretoria.
He is on a week-long official visit aimed at strengthening the existing bilateral ties with South Africa and to look into the preparations for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Mr Oettinger told reporters that the German delegation would visit construction sites of stadia to assess progress there.
Germany hosted a successful world cup in 2006, pioneering amongst other things, the concept of Fan Parks, which South Africa has already adopted ahead of the games.
He explained that there were already a number of German companies that were involved in construction projects for the soccer extravaganza in South Africa, adding that he would encourage more to join in.
"We are going to make our own assessment of the progress in the construction of stadia.
"I will encourage companies from Baden-Württemberg to use this opportunity - we are in fact here to open doors for them and to make contact [in the industry]," said Minister-President Oettinger.
Also linked to the soccer tournament, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said the two parties discussed opportunities in tourism.
"Because of the soccer tournament we see a unique opportunity to increase tourism, we see an opportunity to encouraged expertise from Germany in project management of these large projects that are part of infrastructure within and outside the tournament," said the Deputy President.
The German delegation also recommitted itself to do more to assist South Africa with the much-needed training of artisans, engineers, and education and health workers, amongst others.
"We looked at cooperation in relation to the training of artisans and engineers - something that is already happening - we are going to look at how to expand that. We also looked at cooperation in the support and training of health professionals; and the support and exchange of artisans both at training level and professionals.
"In particular we have asked them to assist us with the strengthening of the capacity of training in our Further Education and Training [FET] collages which are new tertiary vocational training colleges where we do not have a lot of experience in training," explained the Deputy President.
Mr Oettinger said his delegation would use the trip to draw up a precise plan for cooperation with South Africa.
The meeting also looked into ways in which German companies could source agricultural products from South Africa.
In that regard, Mr Oettinger has invited Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana to visit Baden-Württemberg to brief business leaders there about South Africa's agriculture sector and its products.
- By David Masango BuaNews
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