Germany’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity has welcomed the signing of an agreement with Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen to fight against Foot and Mouth disease last week.
Image: Supplied National Department of Agriculture Facebook
Germany’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity has welcomed the signing of an agreement with Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen to fight against Foot and Mouth disease last week.
A statement from Germany from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity said that Federal Minister Alois Rainer, travelled to Cape Town for political talks. “The Minister met with his South African counterpart, Mr John Steenhuisen, as well as the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Alan Winde, and the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer. Federal Minister Rainer also spoke with the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Ms Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly.”
The statement added that the visit's focus was on enhancing German-South African trading relations and in particular continuing cooperation to resume German pigmeat imports against the backdrop of African Swine Fever. “The topics discussed also included the sales opportunities for German apples and high-quality German agricultural machinery. In addition, Germany and South Africa want to enhance collaboration to control Foot and Mouth disease.”
Rainer said that he came to South Africa with a clear roadmap, which is our agricultural export strategy. “South Africa is not only an important economic and political partner for Germany, but also the economic gateway to an entire continent. Each new export market we open for German companies in the agricultural and food industry secures jobs, most of all in rural areas. The discussion with my South African counterpart John Steenhuisen was characterised by great mutual respect and a shared understanding of the need for enhanced cooperation between our two countries.”
Rainer added that they want fair and equal trade relations and partnerships that benefit both sides. “We have agreed to work together to find ways to resume German pigmeat exports to South Africa in the face of the African Swine Fever. My visit has let us take a great step forward in this regard.”
Rainer said that in talks with representatives of the Western Cape Government, it also became abundantly clear that South Africa is very interested in partnership-based trade relations with Germany. “The South African side also made it clear that it hopes for new trading partners to create business opportunities for the local population. This demonstrates once more that trade is also an important building block for food and nutrition security.”
The statement said that during the visit, Federal Minister Rainer and Minister Steenhuisen also signed a Joint Declaration of Intent aimed at enhancing collaboration in the control of Foot and Mouth disease. “The declaration aims to strengthen technical-level dialogue and enhance possibilities for controlling and preventing Foot and Mouth disease, among other things.”
The statement added that South Africa is a close and important strategic partner for Germany. “At the same time, it is the largest sales market for German agricultural products on the African continent. Germany is one of the most important trading partners of South Africa and its second largest importer. This opens up a wide range of opportunities for German companies to generate added value in the South African market. At the same time, South Africa is an established partner country in research and higher education cooperation.”
The statement concluded that Federal Minister Rainer is the first German Minister of Agriculture since 2013 to travel to South Africa for political talks.
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