South Africa's Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa was excited today with the new agreement signed with Cuba in water management, and appreciated the friendship existing between the two countries.
In an exclusive dialogue with Prensa Latina, the minister appreciated the visit of Ines Maria Chapman, president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) of Cuba, as a further step in the expansion of bilateral ties.
"The agreement allows us to strengthen ties in a strategic sector for South Africa, a semi-arid country with an incidence of rainfall of just a nine percent of the world average and the variable level of rivers and dams," she said.
Molewa stressed that the Cubans' technical experience and the control of the issue, along with a completely different situation, are favorable elements to expand exchanges in this field.
The climate change will undoubtedly impact on water resources and the future development of the nations will have much to do with water, so to deepen relations with a friend such as Cuba is a mutually beneficial strategy, she said.
According to the agreements signed yesterday, Cuba and South Africa are committed to promote and develop cooperation in the fields of water resources management and water supply in their respective jurisdictions.