Sarkozy Must Highlight Aid in Country's Visit

from All Africa

BuaNews (Tshwane)

NEWS
26 February 2008
Posted to the web 26 February 2008
Pretoria

International humanitarian body Oxfam, has welcomed French President Nikolas Sarkozy's visit to South Africa, urging he use it as an opportunity to reaffirm France's commitment to spend 0.7 percent of its Gross national Product (GNP) on aid by 2012.

"In many countries around the world, France's aid saves lives. Sticking to the 2012 target would mean increases in real development assistance of 1.9 billion per annum starting in the 2009 budget," said Charles Abani, Oxfam Southern Africa Regional Director.

"This would help save millions of lives in Africa and around the world, and maintain France's reputation as a leading nation in the G8 and European Union in the fight against poverty". Oxfam said France was the first G8 nation to set a clear timetable to reach the UN agreed aid target of 0.7 percent of GNP by 2012, announced when France held the G8 chair in 2003. France was also at the heart of the promise made by the G8 in 2005 to increase global aid levels by $50 billion by 2010, with half of this increase to go to Africa. This aid has been channelled directly towards countries such as Mali and to multilateral institutions such as the Global Fund. This has led to hundreds of thousands of Malian children getting access to education, assisted over 1 million people receive treatment for HIV and AIDS and helped distribute 30 million bed nets across Africa, said Oxfam. France counts among South Africa's top 10 economic partners, with bilateral trade totaling some R25 billion in 2006. France is an important investor in South Africa's economy and about 150 French companies, including multinationals such as Total, Alcatel, Renault, Lafarge and Danone, are represented in South Africa.

Bilateral relations between South Africa and France are directed by institutionalised mechanisms such as the MoU on Political Dialogue, and joint commissions on trade and industry and education; arts, culture, science and technology; and sport. Economic relations between France and South Africa continue to strengthen. South African Airways recently procured Airbus aircraft as part of its comprehensive fleet-modernisation programme.

In September 2006, South Africa and France signed a partnership agreement setting out joint development projects worth R3.1 billion. The Framework Charter Partnership covers the fields of service delivery, small business, job creation and energy efficiency.