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Agricultural Order of Merit to Tinus van Niekerk

On 5 June 2009 the French Embassy awarded Tinus van Niekerk with the Agricultural Order of Merit for his achievements in the South African wine industry and the promotion and import of French wines in this country. At the award ceremony the French Ambassador, Denis Pietton, said: "More recently, you launched the first import programme of French wines for the SPAR Group, South Africa’s largest supermarket chain. This will play a key role in making French wines more affordable to a much broader range of South African consumers." [read ...]

News

Visit by Min Idrac, French Secretary of State for Foreign Trade

The Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Ms Anne-Marie Idrac, visited South Africa from 28 to 30 May 2009. During the visit Min Idrac participated in a France-South African high-level conference on energy. A trade finance deal of R360 million was signed between the French Development Agency (...) [read ...]

Rocket science crash course at Eastern Cape farm school

French scientists volunteering for the Association Planète Sciences presented a crash course in rocket science to the pupils of a small farm school near Grahamstown on 30 March 2009. Christophe Scicluna, Severin Lemoignan and Gonzague Bosch visited South Africa to run the micro rocket DIY (...) [read ...]

French scientists and NRF sign cooperation agreement

On 16 April 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding for using synchrotron beam technology as provided by SOLEIL, a publicly owned company operating in France, was signed by the National Research Foundation and SOLEIL, in the presence of Mr. Philippe Orliange, first counsellor at the French (...) [read ...]

Zodwa Manase receives Knighthood from the French Republic

On 23 March 2009 businesswoman Zodwa Manase was awarded a knighthood in the French National Order of Merit. Ms Manase is the chairperson of Total South Africa and a member of the Saxon Group, a group of South African businesswomen formed by Min Christine Lagarde, French Minister of Finance, in (...) [read ...]

Police cooperation agreement between France and South Africa

On 9 March 2009 a cooperation agreement between France and South Africa was signed to support the enhancement of the South African Police Service’s capabilities against transnational organised crime and terrorism. This three-year cooperation agreement will encompass a financial commitment of (...) [read ...]

Robyn Orlin made a Knight in the French National Order of Merit

On 28 February 2009 renowned choreographer Robyn Orlin was awarded a knighthood in the French National Order of Merit. The award is in recognition of her spirited and dedicated work in the sphere of arts and culture. Her work has been performed in France to great acclaim and she is currently (...) [read ...]

AFD and ACSA sign €85 million loan

On 25 February the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a €85 million loan with the Airports Company SA. Acsa will use the funds to upgrade and extend OR Tambo International Airport for next year's FIFA Soccer World Cup. At the signing the French Ambassador, Denis Pietton, said that this loan (...) [read ...]

Johann Rupert awarded the French Legion of Honour

Johann Rupert, chairman of the luxury goods company Richemont, was made an officer of the French Legion of Honour on 20 February. Mr Rupert is an invaluable ambassador for French luxury products such as Cartier, Chloé and Lancel Paris, while the Rupert family are in a production partnership with (...) [read ...]

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On 10 December 2008 the Universal declaration of Human Rights is 60 years old, and to celebrate this occasion a plaque bearing the text of the declaration was unveiled by Zenzi Lee, granddaughter of Miriam Makeba, while her grandson, Nelson Lumumba Lee, visited the French school in Pretoria to (...) [read ...]

Passing of Miriam Makeba

Announcement by Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs on 10 November 2008 in Paris: "I was deeply moved by the news of the death of Miriam Makeba, great artist and great voice in the fight against apartheid, in the struggle against racism and for the reconciliation of South (...) [read ...]

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