23 June 2008

WITH city partners in Sweden, Holland and the United States, Buffalo City is focusing on structuring its international relations, mainly through its new International Relations Framework.

The draft framework was discussed by City officials, politicians, the national Treasury and the South African Cities Network (SACN) in East London on Tuesday, 9 June. Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter said that the framework should be in line with South African foreign policy.

“It is very important that we have an exercise like this and invite these important people so that we can come up with a good international relations policy. The draft looks very good and if it is successful, we want to share it with other cities.”

She said it was important that local government played a role in international relations and in enhancing the country’s global presence. “Buffalo City has been involved in international relations but we have never had a formal policy, we relied on the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

Despite not having a formal policy on international relations, the City has been involved in initiatives in the sector, including being part of the co-ordination of the Municipal International Relations Framework.

Speaking about the City’s draft International Relations Framework, Peter said it should look at how communities benefited from the city to city relationships the municipality had.

“It should also ensure that the programmes are executed correctly and that the city and the communities benefit from these programmes. And we also need to ensure that it is in line with the national government. We want to come up with a policy we can call our own,” Peter added.

Yet even without a policy, the City has made significant strides in international relations, setting up twinning agreements with the Swedish city of Gävle and the Dutch city of Leiden, and a sister cities agreement with Milwaukee County in the United States.

The International Relations Framework aims to:

• Align Buffalo City’s international relations and development co-operation activities as closely as possible to South African foreign policy;
• Position the City in the ongoing national debate about the role of local government in international relations;
• Ensure that the City’s priorities as outlined in its City Development Strategy, Integrated Development Plan and Local Economic Development Strategy are adhered to in international relations; and
• Support the council’s strategic visions and goals.

The SACN’s Seana Nkhahle said that municipal international relations agreements should be based on principles and promote economic growth and development through trade investment and tourism.

“They should enhance social development, alleviate poverty and ensure environmental sustainability. Both partners should benefit when it comes to technical and management skills, and most importantly, expand the culture of learning,” he said.

Nkhahle said it was important to look at the value of the partnerships and their benefits and challenges. He commended Buffalo City for coming up with a draft framework, saying it was going in the right direction.

Source: BuffaloCity.gov.za