South Africa and DRC Must Work Together to Unlock Growth Potential: President Zuma
Friday 16 October 2015 - 5:59pm
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma. Zuma called on the DRC to work with South Africa to unlock their growth potential. Photo: eNCA
KINSHASA, DRC – South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday praised the progress the Democratic Republic of Congo had made from the strife-torn country of a decade ago, during his opening remarks at the 9th Session of the South Africa-DRC Binational Commission
Speaking in Kinshasa in the DRC, Zuma said: “We meet today in a substantially changed DRC. This is not the DRC of 2004. The DRC of 2004 was emerging from a prolonged conflict and civil strife. It was the DRC that required support and solidarity.
“In solidarity with the people of the DRC, South Africa then committed and pledged to accompany and walk with the Government and the people of this great nation,” Zuma said. “A decade later, we can look back with deserved pride considering the noticeable achievements that we have made.”
Thanking the DRC government for their warm hospitality, Zuma traced how the two countries had first signed an agreement on January 14, 2004, that announced the beginnings of a bilateral agreement through the signing of the important General Cooperation Agreement.
“That agreement set in motion a dynamic and strategic cooperation between our sister countries,” he said, addressing the audience, which included DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange.
Zuma emphasised how South Africa was still committed to supporting the DRC in achieving the shared goals of “the continued development of our two countries, and our peoples toward the eradication of poverty, and the improvement of the lives of our peoples, the regions we occupy, and ultimately, the continent we call home”.
Zuma said the work of ensuring peace, security and stability within the region should continue.
He said the two countries must continue to build their democracies ” based on the rule of law, respect for justice and human rights, and the entrenchment of these principles of constitutional democracy”.
Looking to how the continent is becoming a hub of growth and innovation, he emphasised the critical role Africa had to play on the global stage.
It was important to “unlock the potential of our two countries through sustainable management and development of our God’s given natural endowments”, Zuma added.
Zuma spoke of identifying “critical economic projects that have the potential to put us on the road to industrialisation and economic prosperity of our countries and peoples”.
One such project, he said, was the Grand Inga Hydropower Project which is situated alongside the Congo River, the world’s second largest river. The Grand Inga is a mega-project that is among the world’s largest such projects. The project is aimed at generating about 40,000 MW of electricity that would rival China’s Three Gorges Dam and which could provide energy to half the African continent.
“This project will help turn on the switch to a brighter future for Congo, and the continent,” Zuma said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma. Zuma called on the DRC to work with South Africa to unlock their growth potential. Photo: eNCA
KINSHASA, DRC – South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday praised the progress the Democratic Republic of Congo had made from the strife-torn country of a decade ago, during his opening remarks at the 9th Session of the South Africa-DRC Binational Commission
Speaking in Kinshasa in the DRC, Zuma said: “We meet today in a substantially changed DRC. This is not the DRC of 2004. The DRC of 2004 was emerging from a prolonged conflict and civil strife. It was the DRC that required support and solidarity.
“In solidarity with the people of the DRC, South Africa then committed and pledged to accompany and walk with the Government and the people of this great nation,” Zuma said. “A decade later, we can look back with deserved pride considering the noticeable achievements that we have made.”
Thanking the DRC government for their warm hospitality, Zuma traced how the two countries had first signed an agreement on January 14, 2004, that announced the beginnings of a bilateral agreement through the signing of the important General Cooperation Agreement.
“That agreement set in motion a dynamic and strategic cooperation between our sister countries,” he said, addressing the audience, which included DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange.
Zuma emphasised how South Africa was still committed to supporting the DRC in achieving the shared goals of “the continued development of our two countries, and our peoples toward the eradication of poverty, and the improvement of the lives of our peoples, the regions we occupy, and ultimately, the continent we call home”.
Zuma said the work of ensuring peace, security and stability within the region should continue.
He said the two countries must continue to build their democracies ” based on the rule of law, respect for justice and human rights, and the entrenchment of these principles of constitutional democracy”.
Looking to how the continent is becoming a hub of growth and innovation, he emphasised the critical role Africa had to play on the global stage.
It was important to “unlock the potential of our two countries through sustainable management and development of our God’s given natural endowments”, Zuma added.
Zuma spoke of identifying “critical economic projects that have the potential to put us on the road to industrialisation and economic prosperity of our countries and peoples”.
One such project, he said, was the Grand Inga Hydropower Project which is situated alongside the Congo River, the world’s second largest river. The Grand Inga is a mega-project that is among the world’s largest such projects. The project is aimed at generating about 40,000 MW of electricity that would rival China’s Three Gorges Dam and which could provide energy to half the African continent.
“This project will help turn on the switch to a brighter future for Congo, and the continent,” Zuma said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
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