ATC050305: Report IBSA Summit

International Relations

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs on the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Summit that took place in Brasilia, Brazil, on 13 September 2006, dated 5 March 2008: 

Introduction

The Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs exercises oversight of the Department of Foreign Affairs in line with the constitutional mandate set out in section 55(2) of the Constitution. The Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted a resolution on 29 August 2006 to send a multi-party parliamentary delegation to the first IBSA summit held in Brasilia, Brazil, on 13 September 2006. 

Delegation

The delegation was as follow:

Ms F Hajaig, ANC (Leader of the delegation)

Mr B Skosana, IFP

Mr A Hermans, Support Staff

Background 

Following ongoing interactions between South Africa, India and Brazil, and after the initial discussion between the Heads of State and Government of their countries at the G-8 summit in Evian in 2003, the relationship between these countries was subsequently formalised with the adoption of the Brasilia declaration on 6 June 2006. 

The main objectives of the IBSA Dialogue Forum can be summarised as follows:
 

·            To promote South-South dialogue, cooperation and common positions on issues of international importance;

 

·            To promote trade and investment opportunities between the three regions;

 

·            To promote international poverty alleviation and social development;

 

·            To promote the trilateral exchange of information, international best practises, technologies and skills, as well as to compliment each others competitive strengths and collective synergies; and

 

·            To promote cooporation in a broad range of areas, namely agriculture, climate change, culture, defence, education, energy, health, information society, science and technology, social development, trade and investment, tourism and transport. 

 

Purpose

The purpose of the IBSA summit held in Brasilia was to strengthen the trilateral relations which were the culmination of the three IBSA Ministerial Trilateral Joint Commission meetings held in New Delhi (2004), Cape Town (2005) and Rio de Janeiro (2006) respectively. This partnership is a major development in the area of South-South cooperation. These countries have developed substantial capabilities in different sectors, but they still have to be utilised for the benefit of the South in general. 

The major objectives for the summit were as follows:
 

·            To deepen the South-South dialogue and cooperation within the IBSA context;

 

·            To intensify and enhance coordinated positions on the multilateral fora;

 

·            To further promote the combination of the collective strengths of the three IBSA countries into complimentaries;

 

·            To further consolidate the three continent’s Southern regions on all levels;

 

·            To further promote trade and investment opportunities and development of new markets;

 

·            To take stock of achievements so far in terms of broad range of IBSA cooperation areas that would lead to technology, information and skills transfers, social development, poverty alleviation, job creation etc;

 

·            To issue a joint declaration between the IBSA Heads of State/Government after concluding the summit;

 

·            To review programme on three key areas of trilateral cooperation, i.e.

 

- Energy

- Transport and

- Climate Change; and
 

·            To conclude Trilateral Agreements/MOU: Transport, Agriculture, Energy, ICT and Trade facilitation.

 

5.The IBSA Summit 

The IBSA Dialogue Forum has regular consultations at Senior Official (Focal Point), Ministerial (Trilateral Joint Commissions) and Heads of State and Government (Summit) levels, but also facilitates interaction amongst academia, business and other members of civil society. 

5.1 Academic Summit

The Heads of States Summit was preceded by two parallel events on 12 September 2006, the Academic Seminar attended by academia, and a Business Meeting, attended by captains of industry from the respective countries. As these were parallel events, the delegation attended the Academic Summit at the Itemaraty Palace, in Brasilia. The seminar was hosted by the Gusmoa Foundation and chaired by its Director, Ambassador Moscardi and Prof Cardim of IPRI.

The Academic Summit mainly focussed on the following themes: 
 

·            Science and Technology and Innovation and Economic Development and Cooperation.

 

·            Public Policies and Social development.

 

·            Democracy and Cultural Diversity.

 

The consensus views expressed during the discussions on Science and Technology and Innovation, and Economic Development and Cooperation could be captured as follows:
 

1.      Technological development in the developing world is lagging behind and IBSA countries should take the lead in developing new technology.

 

2.      To make large sectors of IBSA’s industry globally competitive; requires public investment in both old and new nature technologies.

 

3.      Investment in Research and Development (R and D) from both public and private sector to ensure that IBSA countries become the catalyst for new technological development is crucial.

 

4.      IBSA countries have significant technological capabilities in different fields and cooperation could take these capabilities to new heights that could also benefit the developing world.

 

5.      Closer relations should be forged between the various research institutions, academia and industries to provide both the vision and expertise to develop the next generation of systems.

 

6.      Joint research projects on various matters of communality should be encouraged, as it would also facilitate the flow of information.

 

7.      Cooperation in the area of developing safe, renewable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy sources to the collective benefit of all three countries should continue as this would benefit rural communities

 

The consensus views expressed during the discussions on Public Policy and Social Development could be captured as follows:
 

8.      The issue of poverty in IBSA countries and how to address this anomaly within the context of a global economy was a major concern.

 

9.      There was consensus that there is a need to close the gap between the rich and poor, and that public policy should not unintentionally widen the gap.

 

10.   The empowerment of the marginalized, especially the poor and women, through public policy interventions in IBSA countries were welcomed.

 

11.   Within the process of economic reform and deregulation lies the challenge for policy makers to ensure that through appropriate public policy interventions, with respect to social development, the role of government should not be shrinking.

 

12.   HIV/AIDS remains the major threat against economic growth, alleviation of poverty and democracy, and IBSA should lead the global campaign to fight HIV/AIDS.

 

13.   The pooling of resources to develop vaccines, not only for HIV/AIDS but other diseases, to resolve the common problem of IBSA countries is crucial to ensure that IBSA becomes a global economic force.

 

14.   The issues of intellectual property rights and its impact on access of medicine for the poor provoked passionate debate

 

The consensus views expressed during the discussions on the Democracy and Cultural diversify could be captured as follows:

 

1. IBSA countries face similar challenges of poverty, unemployment, land reform and women emancipation.

 

1. IBSA countries have rich cultural mixes trying to overcome the legacy of colonialisaton and the subordination of indigenous cultures.

 

1. IBSA countries should build on areas of common value.

 

1. IBSA countries believe that the strengthening of democracy, through its various constitutional institutions, would enable conflicts to be resolved.

 

1. Largest democracy respectively on each of the continents committed to economic growth, with social equity and inclusion.

 

6. IBSA Dialogue Forum, Brasilia – 13 September 2006

 

1. Meeting of the Heads of State and Government, Ministers, and Business leaders.

 

The Heads of State and of Government made general remarks on the common challenges, the need for closer cooperation and the need to share information and best practise. The IBSA dialogue forum that brought together three countries from different continents to consult and coordinate on global issues of concern is without precedent.

The views expressed by the Heads of State and Government can be summarised as follows:
 

1. The need to forge closer relations with the South cannot be overemphasised.

 

1. The exchange of experiences, to found common ground on cultural issues, trade and investment, and development in science and technology is crucial, as it would have a positive impact on the South.

 

1. The vision to improve the quality of life for all, closing the gap between the rich and poor are shared goals and can be achieved through combining the capacity of IBSA countries to fasten this process.

 

1. Interaction should translate into practical, real cooperation which impacts on the economy, trade, investment, and producing conditions to address these challenges.

 

1. There should be a common resolve to remove obstacles that impede this process, as there are significant synergies between these countries that have developed significant capabilities in different sectors over the years.

 

1. The IBSA countries cooperation within the framework of the G-20 developing countries has facilitated coalition building on World Trade Organisation (WTO) issues.

 

1. The leaders express the importance of IBSA countries in playing a leading role in the multilateral trade negotiations in developing a more constructive proactive agenda.

 

Views expressed by the Chief Executive Officers can be summarised as follows:
 

1. The South African private sector has a special history with India and Brazil and through continued interaction on the economic front can address the challenges faced within the global environment.

 

1. Business leaders were encouraged by the invitation to attend the summit as it could form the catalyst for unblocking economic cooperation among the IBSA countries.

 

1. The establishment of IBSA Business Council to facilitate areas of business growth and remove impediments that would hinder free trade was mooted.

 

The Business community has the shared goal of eliminating poverty, creation of jobs, and contributing to economic growth.

 

7. Signing of Agreements by Ministers 
 

1. One of the objectives of the IBSA summit was to conclude Trilateral Agreements/ Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). Below is the list of MOUs signed.

 

1. IBSA Acton Plan on Trade facilitation for Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment.

 

1. Memorandum of Understanding on Biofuels.

 

1. Memorandum of Understanding on Trilateral Cooperation on Agriculture and Allied Fields.

 

1. IBSA Trilateral Agreement Concerning Merchant Shipping and other Marine Transport Related Matters.

 

1. IBSA framework of Cooperation on Information Society.

 

8. Joint Press Statement
 

1. At the end of the proceedings the Heads of State and Leader of Government issued a Joint Press Statement at the conclusion of the Summit. The salient points are highlighted.

 

1. The three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promotion of peace, security and  sustainable economic and social development on the world and in their respective regions.

 

1. They reiterated the support for the comprehensive reform of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and welcomed the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council.

 

1. They unequivocally condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestation.

 

1. They expressed their outrage at the terrorist attacks on 11 July 2006 in Mumbai.

 

1. They reiterated their strong commitment to the Action against Hunger and Poverty Initiative and, in particular, the Millennium Declaration and the 2005 World Summit Outcome.

 

1. They committed themselves to further enhancing the trilateral cooperation in the field of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

 

1. They shared common vision regarding the promotion and protection of human rights.

 

1. They share similar views regarding the importance of achieving sustainable development and eradication of poverty.

 

1. They took stock of the global security situation concerning disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

 

1. They reaffirmed the inalienable right of all States to peaceful application of nuclear energy, consistent with their international legal obligations.

 

1. They deeply regretted that the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda negotiations have been suspended.

 

1. They reiterated their commitment towards a fairer global trading system.

 

1. They reviewed initiatives for further trilateral sectoral cooperation.

 

1. They expressed their deep satisfaction with the signing of the IBSA Acton Plan on Trade facilitation for Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment.

 

1. They expressed their full support and commitment to the expeditious establishment of the Working Group to focus on the modalities for the envisaged India-Mercosur-SACU trilateral Free Trade Area.

 

1. They reaffirmed the importance of ongoing India-Mercosur and Mercosur_SACU negotiations.

 

1. They expressed the satisfaction of the presence of the important high-level business delegation from India, Brazil and South Africa.

 

1. They expressed their deep appreciation for the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on Biofuels.

 

1. The Prime Minister of India and the President of South Africa praised the Ethanol international initiative launched by Brazil.

 

1. They agreed that the Memorandum of Understanding on Trilateral Cooperation on Agriculture and Allied Fields would be an important instrument to promote socio-economic development.

 

1. They welcomed the signing of the IBSA Trilateral Agreement Concerning Merchant Shipping and other Marine Transport Related Matters.

 

1. They emphasised the importance of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding of Civil Aviation as soon as possible.

 

1. They expressed their satisfaction with the signing of the IBSA framework of Cooperation on Information Society.

 

1. They emphasised the fact that the IBSA Facility Fund constituted a pioneer and unique initiative of South-South cooperation.

 

9. Concluding remarks
 

·          The IBSA summit in Brasilia, Brazil in 2006 was further evidence of the success of the experiment that has its roots at the G-8 summit of a shared vision that unites the three countries.

 

·          The summit consolidated the IBSA Dialogue Forum in achieving synergy required that set the IBSA countries on a path that would fully benefit the South.

 

·          These three countries are committed to economic growth, through social equity and inclusion.

 

·          This summit reinforced the economic strengths of each country and the need to synergise complementarities in areas such as industry, services, trade, and science and technology.

 

·          The Academic Summit identified five initiatives that would harness the collective resources and strengths within the IBSA partnership.

 

1. That IBSA countries develop an initiative focused on the promotion of non-violence and peace;

 

1. That mechanisms are put in place that would encourage cultural exchange, through the film industry, literature and art festivals that would promote and deepen understanding of our cultural heritage;

 

1. To harness the rich bio-diversity to mitigate the threats of human security and sustainable development;

 

1. To consider a communication strategy that would provide a balance in the geo-politics of information dissemination, advanced from an IBSA perspective; and

 

1. To establish a tri-lateral fund that would promote research partnerships, encourage academic exchange, and facilitate the movement of scholars, intellectuals, and social activist among continents.

 

·          The presence of the high-level business delegation was welcomed especially with respect to the exchanges with business leaders.

 

·          The Business summit called for the establishment of an IBSA Business Council that would focus on areas of growth, closer business relations and address areas that may hinder free trade.

 

·          This is vital to achieve the investment potential and would establish institutional and business linkages in important sectoral areas.

 

·          The signing of MOUs and Trilateral Agreements are major achievements and would further cement the relationship of IBSA countries.

 

10.  Conclusion

10.1 Further activities planned by Committee:

10.1.1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs would brief the Committee within six months on the Implementation of the MOUs and Trilateral Agreements signed at the respective Heads of State and of Government; 

The Department of Foreign Affairs would brief the Committee on a quarterly basis on   outstanding matters relating to India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum.

11. Recommendation

In light of the success of the IBSA summit, the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs would like to make the following recommendation:

The House, through its relevant forums, should consider establishing a multilateral parliamentary forum with the Parliaments of India and Brazil to oversee the implementation of agreements and memorandums of understanding of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum.

Report to be considered.