Pretoria - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize and the Governor of Kinshasa Andre Kimbuta Yango have signed a Declaration of Intent of Collaboration, where the province commits to speed up regional trade integration.
The signing ceremony follows the working visit of a delegation from Kinshasa to KwaZulu-Natal, held in Durban from 4 - 7 August.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mkhize said the province wanted to strengthen neighbourly relations between South Africans, in particular the people of KwaZulu-Natal, and the people of Kinshasa and other Africans all over the continent.
He said in its quest to be the epicentre of Africa's sustainable economic growth and development, KwaZulu-Natal has developed a number of strategies to grow the economy, including the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PDGS).
"The signing of this declaration of intent forms part of the implementation of the PGDS. Both parties intend to develop relationships in various areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, civil protection, arts and culture and revenue management.”
Mkhize said both parties agreed to explore other ways to enrich the partnership. A joint committee of experts from KNZ and Kinshasa will be in charge of monitoring and implementing this partnership.
“Importantly, the two parties undertake to actively work towards achieving this goal of bringing together the two provinces and their respective populations."
The strategy was developed by the KwaZulu-Natal Planning Commission and adopted by the provincial cabinet.
The PGDS has identified a number of catalytic infrastructural development programmes, which are aimed at changing the struggle of the economy toward a vibrant economic gateway of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa in general. – SAnews.gov.za
