South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology visited Norway

South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, visited his Norwegian colleague Tora Aasland from the 30th of October – 1st of November.

He was the second South African minister to visit Norway in three months, as the Minister of Education, Ms Naledi Pandoor visited Oslo in august.

It is the celebration of 10 years academic relations between South Africa and Norway that has made the ministers come to Norway. The so called “Oslo celebrations” has included an opera, concerts, seminars, debates, wine tasting and much more.  

Mangena had a tight schedule for his visit. In addition to a bilateral meeting with the Norwegian minister of Research and Higher Education, Mrs. Tora Aasland, the minister opened a research conference at the University of Oslo together with State Secretary Jens Revold. The conference that is also a part of the “Oslo Celebrations” took stock of excisting bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and also discussed the future bilateral cooperation. Mangena also had talks with the Minister of Environment and Development Erik Solheim.  

The bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Norway today is based on a bilateral research agreement from 2002. Research is also an important part of Norway’s development cooperation with South Africa, financed by NORAD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The latter is the main source of funding for the cooperation. The future research cooperation after this programme ends in 2010, is one of the topics to be discussed at the conference.