Pretoria - A delegation of Japanese government and business representatives will hold talks with South African representatives in a move to strengthen ties amid growing global competition for rare metals and other resources in the continent.

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Sue Van Der Merwe will chair the meeting between the delegations and her Japanese counterpart Osamu Fujimura in Cape Town on Wednesday.

For South Africa, which is rich in gold, platinum and rare earths, Japan is eyeing expanding exports to the country related to the construction of infrastructure in various fields such as transport. 

"The purpose of the visit is to investigate opportunities in the areas of trade and investment within infrastructural development projects in the energy and transport sectors," department spokesperson Saul Molobi said on Tuesday. 

The high level delegation also includes Japanese Vice Minister of Economy, Chiaki Takahashi as well as business representatives from various companies such as Toyota, Hitachi, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi, Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.

Currently there are about 86 Japanese companies operating in South Africa and Japan was the biggest export market for South Africa in 2005, 2006 and 2008. However, due to the Global Economic Recession, Japan dropped to 3rd position in 2009. 

Bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to recover from 2010. Two-way trade amounted to R107 billion in 2008 with South Africa enjoying a trade surplus of R25 billion.

The two countries share deep and fruitful bilateral relations. They cooperate in various fields including investments, science and technology, public administration, education, business, sports and recreation among others.

More than 1200 South Africans have been trained in various training courses in Japan. 

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) currently despatches more than 20 experts and volunteers to South Africa, to train government officials in various fields such as maths and science teachers and artisans.

This year marks the 100th year since the establishment of an official contact between South Africa and Japan with the appointment of an Honorary Consul of Japan, Sir Julius Jeppe, in Cape Town in 1910. 

According to Molobi, programmes of events have been organised in both South Africa and Japan to promote people-to-people contacts and a better understanding of the two countries' respective cultures. - BuaNews 

The Embassy took the initiative to arrange a post 2010 press conference on 11 August 2010 with the objective of interacting with all relevant role-players in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and to hear their experiences, post 2010.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup wrap-up press conference was chaired by Ambassador Grobler. Other speakers included Ambassador Obame, the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Mr Ogura, President of the Japan Football Association (JFA), Ambassador Yamada, Deputy Director-General, International Cooperation Bureau and Sub-Saharan African Affairs at MOFA, as well as the Ambassador of the Netherlands and the Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain, as representatives of the countries that played in the final.

Other attendees included 65 members from the sport and travel media, mainly those who were in SA during the World Cup, as well as the Ambassadors of all the African World Cup qualifying countries, tour operators and representatives from the main FIFA 2010 sponsors, i.e. Coca-Cola, Adidas and SONY.

The overwhelming message was that in the end South Africa and Africa was the winner and that South Africans can be proud of hosting a most successful World Cup. In fact, the most profound intervention was made by the President of the Japan Football Association (JFA), Mr Ogura, who during his statement apologised, on behalf of the JFA and the media, for the amount of unnecessary negative reporting on South Africa that was generated preceding the World Cup. The warmth, friendliness and hospitality of all South Africans have taken all visitors by surprise and were specifically mentioned as the main contributing factors in ensuring that the Japanese supporters and media had a most enjoyable time.

Panellists expressed the hope that the media will from now on, knowing the truth about South Africa and having experienced some its beauty, diversity and vibrancy, report more positively about South Africa and assist in keeping the momentum created by the World Cup going by portraying positive images about South Africa, which will assist in the promotion of tourism to South Africa.

Journalists from across the world have hailed Cape Town as one of the friendliest and most beautiful cities, according to a report compiled by the city's tourism agency.

Cape Town Tourism interacted with 750 international journalists during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, taking them on various tours to show the various faces of the city, said the organisation's chief executive Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, who on Wednesday released the report.

Freelance journalist Vincent de Vries from the Netherlands said aspects from all over the world could be found in Cape Town.

"I have been everywhere from Mongolia to Vancouver, from Beijing to Rio de Janeiro, but my visit to Cape Town, during the World Cup Soccer, where I stayed for more than five weeks, ruined my ambition to see the whole world in 10 years. Why?

"Because I fell in love with the Mother City! Now I don't have to travel around the world anymore because Cape Town is the world.

"The V&A Waterfront is like Europe, the food is perfect like in Asia, the weather is fantastic like South-America, the people are as friendly as in Australia and the ambitions are as high as in the USA. I fell in love with this marvellous city and will return time and time again," said de Vries.

Duncan Castles, who writes for the UK's The Observer said he had travelled and lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas but had never been to a city that made such an immediate impression on him.

"The setting is breathtaking, and waking up each morning to Table Mountain's flitting mood is a joy. Then you add in the friendliness of the people, the quality of the food and wine, and Cape Town's sense of fun, and you have a truly special place," said Castles.

Edward Lawrence of CBS TV Network in the US said he had initially had a "huge fear" of visiting South Africa because he had always heard that it was dangerous for American tourists, but that his urge to see the World Cup had made him throw caution to the wind.

"From the time I stepped off the plane in Cape Town, I felt welcomed by the people there - from the cab drivers to the Bed-and-Breakfast owners. I was able to take advantage of being a tourist in Cape Town and it was amazing. I saw and experienced so much and will definitely return to Cape Town," said Lawrence.

Zheng Daojin, Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, said Cape Town was "one of the most beautiful places on earth.

"My impression of the beauty, of the nature and the people of this city will stay with me forever. Thank you for the most fantastic time," said Daojin.

Andres Kudacki a photographer and filmmaker from Argentina described the city as "amazing".

"It is one of the most photogenic cities in the world and I was surprised and amazed during my stay here. From the Waterfront to Khayelitsha - I loved each part of Cape Town," said Kudacki. 

Sourced by SA – The Good News via BuaNews

Ribbons were cut at Sandton, Marlboro, Rhodesfield and the airport, signifying the route that will open on Tuesday, 8 June, just three days before the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ kicks off.
Guests, including cabinet ministers and ambassadors, were given a ride in the Gautrain, stopping at each station, and reaching speeds of 150kph on their way to the airport.

It will take commuters 15 minutes to travel between Sandton and the airport; 12 minutes from Rhodesfield to Sandton; and around four minutes from Marlboro to Sandton. The Gautrain will travel at speeds of up to 160kph.

Dear Friends of South Africa, Yokoso!

Thank you for visiting our exciting new website!
I trust that the website will inspire you to visit my country, explore all its diversity, its beauty and learn more about its possibilities.

In 2010, Japan and South Africa celebrate the Centennial of bilateral relations between our two countries.
Although our countries are geographically far apart, modern communication
and transport have made it possible to enhance our relations, through all these years.
We are committed to see growing people-to-people contact between South Africa and Japan being established and this new website will, undoubtedly, contribute to that.

We will, also in 2010, proudly host the FIFA World Cup and will endeavor to make it a truly unique South African and African experience.
SA is indeed an exciting country!
We are a young but vibrant democracy with a strong growing economy.

Our “rainbow nation” in South Africa has much to offer, in terms of its friendly and hospitable people, its rich and diverse culture and traditions, its varied scenic beauty, natural and cultural world heritage sites, sunny skies, its abundant resources, teeming wildlife, beautiful beaches and growing economic activities.

In this regard, I want to invite you all to explore all the new and exciting features we have created on the website with the objective of providing you with interesting and relevant information on South Africa.
We have, also, established many links to other informative and useful sites and I trust you will enjoy discovering the many faces of South Africa.

To further assist you in your quest, our website also contains relevant information about the Embassy and its different sections and services, such as the political, the trade and economic, the science and technology, administration, consular section and services.

Enjoy your time on our website. 
We trust that our website will contribute to the further
deepening and widening of relations and to a better mutual understanding between our two countries.

We look forward to seeing you again - thank you.