Report to: Executive Committee, ethekwini Municipality. From: Eric Apelgren Head, Intergovernmental Relations Relations

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1 Report to: Executive Committee, ethekwini Municipality From: Eric Apelgren Head, Intergovernmental Relations Relations Subject: Draft Report on the 7 th Forum of Friendship Cities and the Constituent Conference of BRICS Council Regions convened in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia. Date: 26 September 2015 Leader of the Delegation: Cllr Stanley Xulu, Chief Whip, representing Mayor James Nxumalo. Dates of the programme in St. Petersburg: September 2015 Officials: Mr Sipho Cele, Deputy City Manager, Governance and International Relations Mr. Eric Apelgren, Head, Intergovernmental Relations Dr Mpilo Ngubane, Head, Skills Accompanied by: Mr. Thembani Maluleke, Third Secretary: Political, South African Embassy in Russia 1. Wednesday, 23 September During the day - Arrival of the heads of regions and participants of the 7th Forum of Twin Cities, transfer to the hotel, accommodation in hotels in consultation with each delegation, consultations, working with documents. Representatives from the South African Embassy in Russia and officials from the Mayor/Governor s office of the city of St. Petersburg received the Durban delegation and briefed them on the programme and protocol in Russia. Cllr Stanley Xulu meeting the President of the St. Petersburg International Relations Programme.

2 2. Thursday, 24 September Visit to specialized exhibitions in the Russian National Library. The delegation was exposed to Russian systems of documentation of all historical documents, all published works and academic journals for research, knowledge sharing and building a strong sense of national pride and patriotism A Joint meeting of the 7th Forum of Twin Cities and the Constituent Conference of the BRICS Council of Regions (greetings from the Interim Governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk Region Natalia Komarova and from the Governor of St.Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, speech by representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, speeches by foreign guests, signing of the Memorandum to Establish the BRICS Council of Regions).

3 Speech on the occasion of the 7 th Forum of the BRICS Friendship Cities held on the 24 September 2015 in St. Petersburg, Russia Delivered by Cllr Stanley Xulu, on behalf of Mayor James Nxumalo. Mr. Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of the St. Petersburg, Mrs. Natalia Komarova, Governor of Autonomous District of Khanty-Mansiysk, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice-President of the China People s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Zou Chuanning, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Qingdao Municipal People s Congress, Officials from the city Guangzhou Officials from the city of Mumbai Esteemed delegates Ladies and gentlemen Good afternoon On behalf of our Mayor and the people of the great city of Durban I wish to deliver special greetings to all of you at this important meeting of the 7 th Forum of the BRICS Friendship Cities. Firstly I wish to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Governor of St. Petersburg for hosting us this week and for the excellent hospitality we have received since our arrival. I also wish to express our fraternal greetings to all our BRICS Friendship City partners. I am looking forward to the future cooperation between our cities. Today I wish to confirm and rededicate the city of Durban s commitment to Forum of the BRICS FRIENDSHIP CITIES. This is in keeping with all our countries stated commitments to the BRICS process and programmes to make a better life for all our people and to create a climate for all our cities and countries to thrive and prosper. In addition to supporting the leadership of our respective national leaders in promoting BRICS, I believe that we as cities can play a strategic role in bolstering the objectives of BRICS. It is through the Forum of BRICS Friendship Cities that we can contribute and complement the successes of BRICS at a national and international level. I believe we can do this by considering and applying our minds to the following; 1. Promote innovative ideas for mobolising financial and human resources through a proposed united banking system for projects in BRICS cities and regions. We are happy to engage on this idea and take it back to our city leadership and the people of Durban. 2. Durban is Africa s largest and busies port. It is a city of 3.6 million people and is South Africa s second largest city. All the BRICS Friendly cities that make up this forum are strategic port cities in their respective regions. It is for this reason that I recommend we should explore ideas on cooperation for an association of BRICS port cities.

4 Durban is an active member of the Indian Ocean Port Cities Network. Cooperation with all the Indian Ocean port cities gives Durban and all the BRICS port cities another important platform for cooperation and economic growth. The city of Durban is a strategic partner with our national government in the implementation of Operation Phakisa a Sotho word for accelerate/ speed up meaning that South Africa through the ocean economy will be accelerating economic growth in Southern Africa. The four main sectors to be targeted by Operation Phakisa are; Marine transport and manufacturing activities, such as coastal shipping, trans-shipment, boat building, repair and refurbishment; Offshore oil and gas exploration; Aquaculture and, Marine protection services and ocean governance. There are enormous opportunities through the ocean economy of all our port cities. The following opportunities can be activated and enhanced through a BRICS association of port cities; We can create more jobs, Maximise cooperation on trade and investment through port developments, fishing, aquaculture, boat building, ship repair and maritime governance. share knowledge and expertise on environmental management of our oceans and ports for sustainable growth and development, Develop partnerships on skills development, training and capacity building to make our ports more efficient, meet growing demands of our economy s and make more effective use of technology. The city of Durban will be establishing a Skills Academy to train young people and up-skill existing staff to play a meaningful role in the economic growth of our city and region. There will be strategic partnerships with institutions of higher learning, the private sector, international partners/donors and the BRICS Friendship cities. 3. It is also recommended that all BRICS port cities consider ideas on cooperation for enhanced port navigation systems. We are looking forward to discussing this proposal with all the BRICS Friendship Cities and coming up with a joint plan to take us forward on this proposal. I also wish to thank all the leaders and officials for working hard at promoting the BRICS cities Friendship and cooperation process. This will go a long way in helping our cities to manage urbanization, migration and positively impact on the global goals for sustainable development. In conclusion I wish once again thank the Governor and the people of St. Petersburg for the great hospitality and agreeing to host this important forum. I will take home all the recommendations and resolutions of the forum and come back to you all with my Mayor in the near future with a positive way forward on future cooperation. I thank you.

5 14.00 Departure for lunch Lunch Departure for the EXPOFORUM convention and exhibition Centre Visit to the Neva Maritime Exhibition (Pulkovskoye Highway, with a traffic police escort)

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11 17.30 Transfer to the hotel Arrival to the hotel. Free time 4. Friday, 25 September Visit to the State Russian Museum. Meeting with Mr. Vladimir Gusev, Director of the State Russian Museum Departure for Smolny (main entrance) Presentation of the BRICS Universal Electronic Navigation System by St. Petersburg specialists, presentation of the project of training navigation centres and harmonizing of approaches to the unified training standards of the BRICS marine navigation (Smolny, the main entrance, Light Hall, simultaneous translation is provided);

12 Coffee break; Discussion of the proposal of the People's Government of Qingdao (China) to create the Association of the Port Cities of BRICS countries, presentation of the port of Qingdao, speech of the head of Guangzhou delegation and presentation of the Big Port of Guangzhou, speech of the head of Shenzhen delegation and presentation of the port of Shenzhen, signing of the Declaration of Intent to create the BRICS navigation system; Departure for the River Neva Embankment (Vasilievsky Island, Rumyantsev Embarkation Point (with a traffic police escort) Trip along the River Neva on the New Island ship. Reception on behalf of the Government of St. Petersburg Return to the hotel. Free time. Saturday, 26 September Check out for the Russian and foreign participants. Some of the key recommendations and ideas to take forward the BRICS Friendship cooperation Consider a proposal for the establishment of a BRICS ports cities Association consider the following; Promote cooperation on strategic trade and investment opportunities between BRICS port cities, Share knowledge and expertise on the sustainable and integrated development, expansion and growth of ports. Look at strategic partners for the establishment of ethekwini s Training Academy Maximize benefits from the ocean economy by mobolising strategic partners from the BRICS countries, Look at strategic cooperation with Maritime education and training partners to enhance platforms to prepare our youth and current staff in the city to fast track projects emanating from Operation Phakisa and SIP2. Including ideas e-navigation and other technological advancements. Consider the idea of BRICS Cities financial services entity that could finance for large city projects. Invite BRICS city public and private sector partners to key events and conferences in the city to create a diverse range of partnerships for mutual benefit. Sustain BRICS Friendship cooperation partnerships for attracting future investments, access for Durban based company s to trade in BRICS cities.

13 Russia will be hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The City of St. Petersburg will be one of the host cities. Durban can use the partnership to share ideas and possible opportunities for Durban companies in the build up for the games. The BRICS friendship cities forum provides significant opportunities for fast tracking trade, investment and export opportunities for Durban and KZN based big and small enterprises. St. Petersburg Premier League football club will be invited to send their U19 football club to come and compete in the U19 soccer tournament in Report ends.