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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 06 May 2012 Title: SA, US boost cooperation in transport -------------------- Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele held bilateral discussions with the US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood at the US Department of Transport Offices in Washington DC on Friday. Ndebele said there was a need for South Africa and the US to share experiences on road safety because South Africa had major challenges with regard to road accidents. "We lose thousands of lives every month, this has seen us come up with several targeted strategies to reduce road carnage....we also want to partner with the US on training and development in the fields of maritime, aviation and road safety," Ndebele said. The minister requested that the US Department of Transport assist South Africa by mobilising financial and other resources for transport training and related capacity building initiatives. Other issues discussed during the meeting were cooperation on issues relating to transport infrastructure funding, public transport and skills development. LaHood said the two countries shared a rich deep friendship, adding that US Department of Transport was working on a transport training programme for South Africa, in particular for government officials as well as youth and women. "We must ensure that transportation investment generates economic recovery, South Africa is a key transportation and economic hub, and Minister Ndebele is a world leader in road safety, we will, therefore, continue to share friendship and cooperation," said LaHood. The US and South African Departments of Transport have established a Transportation Working Group. The working group held its 3rd meeting in Washington DC on Friday. In September 2011, the South African and US governments signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Transport. The MoC serves as an umbrella agreement to incorporate sector specific initiatives, including future cooperation in the areas of maritime, rail, aviation, infrastructure as well as training and research technology. - BuaNews |
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