South-South co-operation is pursued as an expression of South-South solidarity and a strategy for economic independence and self-reliance.
The global financial and economic crisis has eroded the influence of countries of the North. This, coupled with the recent economic growth and the prominence of some countries in the South, has led to the increasing relevance and prominence of South-South co-operation.
This South-South co-operation helps to strengthen multilateralism in the promotion of an action-oriented approach to the developmental challenges of the South. Through the collective strength of the South arising from shared values and objectives, South-South co-operation enables and should develop countries to play an active role in international policy and decision- making processes.
Let me give you some examples of South-South co-operation. We have the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South African forum, namely Brics; the India, Brazil, South Africa Dialogue Forum, namely Ibsa; the New Asian- African Strategic Partnership, NAASP; the Forum on China-Africa Co- operation; the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation, IOR- ARC; the India-Africa Forum; and the Non-Aligned Movement, NAM, to mention but a few.
South Africa has recently joined a group of nations that has contributed a large portion to global trade. It is expected that South Africa will gain significantly from the investment and infrastructure development in the Brics grouping over the next 10 to 15 years. These countries are Brazil, Russia, India and China, which make up 42% of the global population and 18% of the gross domestic product, GDP.
The four founding Brics members all share a desire to see barriers to trade reduced so as to promote a more unrestricted environment for trade and investment. Many analysts were surprised by South Africa's inclusion in Brics, considering the difference in South Africa's size and population. However, South Africa has a unique position, and that is to act as a conduit through which other members of Brics can have a more meaningful relationship with Africa and the continent. South Africa's inclusion also offers the country a range of possible contracts for South African businesses as well as an opportunity to invite members of Brics to invest in South Africa and the African continent as a whole.
South Africa successfully hosted the fifth Brics summit in March 2013, where the idea of a new development bank was discussed. In the recent World Economic Forum, in May 2013, our hon President Jacob Zuma said that the highly anticipated Brics bank should be based in Africa. [Applause.] President Zuma told delegates:
Africa feels that the bank should be established here, because the greater need for the bank is on the continent of Africa.
Decisions about details of the Brics bank are to be made at the next Brics summit in Brazil.
Maybe I can give you a summary of the economic benefits of the South-South co-operation with South Africa. In 2011 South Africa exported to China and its exports reached a high value of R85 billion, which shows a 45% increase in exports over those of 2010. South Africa's agriculture, forestry and fisheries' exports to China increased by 42% between 2010 and 2011. [Applause.] China is now South Africa's fourth largest export market after ranking seventh during 2010 [Applause.] In 2011 bilateral trade between South Africa and India stood at R53,7 billion; South Africa was exporting goods to the value of R24,4 billion to India and importing goods from India to the value of R29,3 billion; trade between South Africa and India is set to reach US$15 billion by the year 2014 - India ranks amongst the top 10 investing countries in South Africa; exports to Russia have increased from R2,1 billion in 2010 to R2,2 billion in 2011 and Russia is South Africa's 41st biggest export destination.
Through Dirco and other different international co-operations, about 125 different international training opportunities have taken place in South Africa each year. This training is presented by different institutions from different countries. This training includes, amongst other things training in diplomacy, sustainable development, communications and protocol; training in constitution-building, in security and in language. These are but a few of the opportunities that we presented.
It is difficult for our committee to do oversight of all the embassies in the various countries and we obviously cannot afford to go and visit all these embassies stationed in different parts of the world.
I would like to thank the director-general of the department who, together with your team, were always willing to come and give detailed presentations to our committee. Thanks to you and your team for promoting South Africa to the world. [Applause.]
We as the ANC adopt this budget. I thank you. [Applause.]