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Bilateral Consultations
Italy
 On Tuesday 9 October, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti met South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in Rome.
The two reviewed their bilateral relations in a very friendly atmosphere and discussed a wide range of opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Governments, businessmen, scientific institutions and Universities alike.
The two Countries determined that the creation of new partnerships is the most efficient tool to advance cooperation between them and bring mutual benefits. The ever increasing presence of Italian investors and manufacturing companies in South Africa will promote the creation of jobs and foster skills locally. At the same time the partnership will provide the Italian companies with access to a growing market and a platform from which to explore the opportunities of Africa in a mature environment. The two Statesmen identified skills-transfer and training as important tools to guarantee the sustainability of their partnerships and production.
"It is an effective way to address relations between the two Countries that increasingly view each other as strategic partners, able to build on a very solid foundation, including that laid by the dynamic Italian community in South Africa, as well as the support provided by Italy toward the struggle against Apartheid”, said Italy’s Ambassador to South Africa, Vincenzo Schioppa.
Philippines
 Deputy Minister Ebrahim’s visit kicked off with a courtesy call on Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Laura Q. Del Rosario on Monday, 24 September 2012, followed by a bilateral meeting to review the status of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further enhance and deepen cooperation. The visit took place a few days prior to the signing of an agreement between South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario in New York on 27 September 2012 to establish a Bilateral Consultative Forum (BCF) between the two countries.
Both governments saw this visit as laying the groundwork for expanded relations and making progress on agreements in Arts & Culture, Visa Waiver for official and working passports,- Tourism, Agriculture and Air Services. During the bilateral meeting Deputy Minister Ebrahim and Undersecretary Rosario encouraged mutual business delegations to explore further opportunities for trade and investment. Economic ties received a boost in the last few years, with the investment by South African companies Gold Fields and Aspen Pharma Care in the Philippines market.
Switzerland
Switzerland and South Africa held high-level consultations on a number of issues on 11 October 2012, including how they can co-operate in promoting peace in Africa, with trade between the two countries having risen by 25% in the last five years.
The Deputy Minister of International Relations, Marius Fransman, and Switzerland's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Yves Rossier, agreed that both countries would look at increasing mutual co-operation to support Somalia and the Horn of Africa region, and to encourage the process of reconciliation.
During the 4th session of the SA-Switzerland High Level Consultations in Cape Town, Fransman and Rossier also discussed how to strengthen economic and investment co-operation.
While Switzerland is ranked sixth when it comes to the value of foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Africa, according to the Swiss Embassy, trade between the two countries had risen sharply in the last five years.
Ukraine
 South African Deputy Minister Marius Fransman hosted his counterpart Ambassador Mayko from Ukraine on 9 October 2012. During his opening remarks Minister Fransman said, "These Consultations create an opportunity for both sides to examine the scope of our relations over a wide range of issues. The political, economic, social and development cooperation issues are reviewed holistically, so that our relations can develop to the mutual benefit of both Peoples.
Ukraine is viewed as a true friend of South Africa and we share some common values of democracy, respect for human rights and social justice."
He said further, "The issue of education and job creation, especially amongst South African youth is a growing concern for the South African Government and I would like to see the conclusion of the Outstanding Agreements and skills transfer for the tangible benefits deriving from our bilateral cooperation and its positive impact on South Africa’s key national priorities, especially in the field of education, the creation of employment, skills development and vocational training."
Events & Exhibitions
Film Festivals
The 8th Latin American and Caribbean Film Festival begins on 11 October 2012.
19th Annual Japanese Film Festival commences on 20 October 2012
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KZN Premier opens more doors for Indian trade
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize opened more doors for Indian businesses to work with the Province in the film, ICT and other business sectors during his business mission to India on 16 October 2012.
Dr Mkhize has met with major players in the Indian film industry and paved the way for South African film makers, aspiring writers and technical staff to get get skills training.
The KwaZulu-Natal delegation was well received in Mumbai's Film City and Whistling Wood, where various skills were on display.
The Indian film industry has pioneered a number of technical and is currently providing cost effective post production services even to the Hollywood for Industry.
Mr Omveer Saini, public relations officer for Film City took Dr Mkhize on a tour of facilities, showing innovative ways that India has employed to develop the industry to a world player status, providing for the Bollywood and international markets.
Mr Saini said a total of no less than 300 films are produced for the market in Mumbai alone.
Business Head of Digital Media in Whistling Woods, Mr Chaitanga Chinchlikar said the country is more than willing to provide training to KZN on film making, set design, editing and various other associated fields.
India is a key trading partner with KwaZulu-Natal, with several businesspeople represented in some of Mumbai's major business chambers already doing business with the Province.
The two are members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) whose conference will be held in Durban next year.
As a precursor to the conference, KwaZulu-Natal will host, in February next year, delegations to showcase the Province's tourism market “to bolster person to person and business to business opportunities”.
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