South African Minister of Science and Technology Mangena to visit Finland

Press release 151/2007
20 August 2007

Mr Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa, will visit Finland on 22–24 August at the invitation of Paavo Väyrynen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development. The ministers will discuss cooperation between Finland and South Africa and future prospects, and will sign an agreement on a new development cooperation project aiming to support the development and implementation of communications-technology-based services suited for local conditions and the development of administrative capacity.

During their visit, Minister Mangena and his delegation will also become acquainted with systems supporting information society development, innovation, and development of science and technology. In addition, talks will be held on the promotion of cooperation. Among the sites to be visited are: Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund; Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation; and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. There will also be talks with representatives of Finnish businesses.

Additional information: Project Assistant Heini Pulli, Unit for Southern Africa of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6427