IBSA

1. IBSA India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum Briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs 25 October 2006 Parliament, Cape Town

2. Objectives Deepen South-South dialogue & cooperation Enhance joint positions in international fora Combine the collective strengths of the three countries into complimentary “synergies” Consolidate three continents’ Southern regions Promote trade and investment opportunities Cooperate in a broad range of areas that would lead to technology and skills transfers, social benefits, job opportunities, poverty alleviation, development Review programme on three main areas of Trilateral co-operation : energy, transport, climate change South African Delegations Government President TM Mbeki Minister NC Dlamini Zuma – DFA Minister JT Radebe – DoT Minister MB Mpahlwa – DTI Minister B Sonjica – DME Members of Parliament Senior Officials from the various departments Business BUSA was represented by 21 persons including the BUSA President, Chairman and CEO Academic Centre for Policy Studies Institute for Global Dialogue University of South Africa Wits University IBSA SUMMIT, 12 – 13 SEPT 2006, Brasilia, Brazil

3. IBSA SUMMIT OUTCOMES: • that South Africa will host 2nd IBSA Summit - late 2007; • that the next IBSA Ministerial will be held in New Delhi, 1st quarter of 2007; • that the IBSA Forum is an instrument for promoting closer coordination on global issues; • that IBSA reaffirms their commitment to peace, security and sustainable economic and social development; • that the Forum provides a framework to further expand contacts between Asian, Latin American and African Developing Countries; • that IBSA is committed to strengthening of South-South cooperation; • that IBSA will continue to work together to strengthen multilateral systems such as the UN; • that IBSA will continue to call for the comprehensive reform of the UN, including expansion of the Security Council to include developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America; • that as members of the Outreach Partner, IBSA is committed to work with the G-8 to address matters of mutual concern;

4. IBSA Summit Outcomes Continued… • to redouble efforts on the Action Against Hunger and Poverty Initiatives (MDG1) and the 2005 World Summit Outcome; • IBSA share common visions regarding the promotion and protection of human rights; • to address challenges of climate change and environmental protection in an urgent manner; • that IBSA reiterate their commitment to the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons; • that IBSA condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; • to explore approaches to co-operate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy under appropriate IAEA safeguards; • that Iran’s nuclear issue should be resolved diplomatically within the context of the IAEA; • to provide humanitarian relief to Lebanon;

5. IBSA Summit Outcomes Continued… • to call on developed countries to reduce their expenditure on agricultural subsidies and to strategise around the revitalisation of the Doha Round; • that IBSA reaffirm their hope for the resumption of peace negotiations and call for resumption of PNA and Israel talks; • that IBSA is committed to strengthening the multilateral trading system in a more development-friendly fashion, to promote economic growth and employment, and the reduction of poverty; • to work hard to ensure that the IBSA countries co-sponsoring (with other countries) of the amendment to the TRIPS Agreement by introducing a mandatory requirement for the disclosure of the origin resources and / or associated traditional knowledge used in inventions for which application for intellectual property rights are tied, be successful; • to enhance trilateral cooperation in the fields of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, and explore the possibility of concluding a trilateral instrument aiming towards collaboration among the three countries in the research and development of diagnostic tools, drugs and vaccines for AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and encourage scientists of the three countries to work together; and • to explore the strengths and complementarities of their economies to enhance their competitive advantage.

6. Trilateral Agreements Signed • MOU on Trilateral Co-operation in Agriculture and Allied Fields • The purpose of the agreement is to establish a framework to strengthen co-operation in the field of agriculture amongst the partners; and • subject to the availability of funds, the parties shall endeavour to take all steps necessary to work, jointly and severally through mutual consultations to ensure that results of research and development and experience gained from implementing agriculture and related programmes are shared and disseminated widely in their respective regions for the betterment of agriculture and allied fields, including rural development and poverty alleviation. • MOU on Establishing a Trilateral Task Team on Bio-fuels • The purpose of the task team shall be to facilitate technology transfer and promotion of biofuels production and consumption with a view to establish a world market for biofuels, in particular ethanol and bio-diesel; and • develop technical cooperation programmes, including downstream operational aspects (transport, storage, blending, and distribution) of ethanol and biodiesel.

7. Trilateral Agreements Signed Continued… • Agreement on Merchant Shipping and Other Maritime Transport Matters • Parties to the agreement shall strive to eliminate obstructions and other conditions tending to prevent the development of mutual maritime co-operation; and • encourage and facilitate the exchange of information necessary for accelerating and facilitating the flow of commercial goods at sea and at port and encourage the strengthening of co-operation between merchant fleets, subject to the provisions of the respective domestic laws concerning tax secrecy. • Action Plan on Trade Facilitation for Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment • Parties to the agreement shall promote technical cooperation in the field of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment; and • identify possibilities of harmonizing standards to facilitate trade, wherever feasible.

8. Business Seminar Outcomes Key Issues: • Public and Private Sectors interaction in addressing connectivity and bureaucracy issues with particular regard to transport, ICT and visa regimes to better unlock the vast trade and investment potential between IBSA. Key Concerns: • The three countries still face similar challenges of state reform, social inclusion and growing their economies; and • that existing visa regimes hamper regional integration.

9. Business Seminar Outcomes Way forward: • IBSA should focus on a comprehensive economic and investment agreement free of any trade barriers. • Globalisation should be factored into the IBSA equation – all three countries have global companies and it might be prudent to think of IBSA as a global company and to build cultural diversity within it. • Focus on areas where IBSA could grow and do business together and on areas which hinder free trade.

10. Academic Seminar Outcomes Science/Technology/Innovation/and Education development and cooperation • Investment in S&T important in order to gain leading edge of technology; • Strategic use of research funds is called for in order to make an impact; • Establishment of efficient well-funded academic exchange programme; • Purposeful cooperation will create synergies across national boundaries; and • Need for pooling resources among IBSA partners.

11. Academic Seminar Outcomes… Public Policies and Social Development • IBSA needs to bridge the divide between the haves and have-nots; • IBSA must empower the socially & politically marginalised; • Scourge of HIV & AIDS identified as the single most important threat to economic growth; • In IBSA, trilateral resources could be pooled to effectively fight HIV&AIDS; and • Intellectual property rights pose a significant barrier to access to those who need medicines in the developing countries.

12. Academic Seminar Outcomes… Democracy & Cultural Diversity • Firstly, it is proposed that IBSA begin an initiative focused on the promotion of non-violence and peace - drawing on inspiring leaders such as Gandhi – connected to both India and South Africa, and Josué de Castro, a Brazilian, but an icon internationally in the fight against hunger; • A second proposal features possibilities in cultural exchange. It was observed that India has an enormous film and publishing industry whose capacities might be harnessed to promote film and book production of our most important literature and the cultural imaginary in each of our countries. This can be supported by arts festivals that promote our cultures, deepen understanding and develop goodwill among IBSA; • A third proposal is to harness our rich heritage in bio-diversity to mitigate the threats to human security and sustainable development. Preserving bio-diversity and promoting environmental conservation can therefore become a major focus area for continuing dialogue through the IBSA forum. A practical initiative in this regard is a joint convention on climate change, and UN cooperation for the use of energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases; • A fourth practical suggestion is that we consider a Gondwanaland News Agency so that there may be greater balance in the geo-politics of information dissemination, advanced from an IBSA perspective; and • A fifth and final proposal is to establish a trilateral fund that would promote research partnerships, encourage academic exchange, and facilitate the movement of our scholars, intellectuals, and social activists among continents. These efforts would support all of the preceding objectives.

13. Trends Analysis • Strong bonds are being forged between the three partners; • IBSA has become instrumental for promoting ever closer coordination on global issues between three large multicultural and multiracial democracies of Asia, South America and Africa; • The success of the IBSA Summit provides new impetus and momentum to the Forum’s importance as a Dialogue Forum amongst countries of the South with the intention to promote the development agenda, increase inter-regional and South-South cooperation; and • Developments within the Forum are increasingly being monitored closely by the international community which perceive IBSA to be as a forum created to promote the three countries UNSC aspirations.

14. Challenges • To cultivate a sense of common good among the Dialogue Partners; • To attend meetings at appropriate levels; • To deepen understanding of each others’ cultures and societies; and • To ensure IBSA intentions are not misunderstood by the international community.

15. Way Forward • To develop plans to translate agreements into implementable programmes; • To encourage and include the participation of Parliamentary groups in IBSA processes; • To plan for the 4th Ministerial Meeting scheduled in New Delhi, 2007; and • To prepare for the 2nd IBSA Summit to be held late 2007 in South Africa.