France is prepared to help South Africa develop its transport infrastructure, visiting French Minister of Foreign Trade Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday.
”The Gautrain project clearly has one milestone in 2010 but that will be just one junction of the line,” she told reporters in Sandton.
”There will be many junctions and sections to add and France would like to assist with that. Going beyond 2010, we will try to respond to whatever the South African economy will need.”
According to a statement by the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry and J’adore South Africa, Lagarde said her country would like to establish long term business relationships with South Africa.
”We have objectives in the much longer term. We don’t want to be here just for the short term. That is not how French business operates.”
Lagarde is in South Africa for a ”French week” that was launched on Monday. It entails a number of events to increase cross-cultural networking between South Africa and France.
During her visit, she signed a joint statement on co-operation in transport with South African Transport Minister Jeff Radebe.
”We signed the statement to structure and underline the fact that we want to cooperate in the fields of transportation going forward to include larger projects like the Gautrain project,” Lagarde said.
The statement allows for an increase in air traffic between the two countries and for France to share its experiences with South Africa in public transport.
Lagarde said France was also eager to help with South Africa’s energy and telecommunication needs.
”You will stop being a net exporter of energy very shortly. You will have long-term needs that we can help respond to.”
France would like to help develop a long term nuclear power relationship with South Africa, she said.
She added that there was a misconception among many French firms that there was a risk to doing business in South Africa.
”There are misconceptions and misperceptions about the market that need to be defused by the reality of those that conduct the business on the ground,” Lagarde said. – Sapa