Hon Chairperson and hon members, it will be recalled that South Africa and Cuba established full diplomatic relations on 11 May 1994. A number of bilateral co-operation agreements have since been signed with Cuba in areas of science, technology, arts, culture, sports and recreation, air services, merchant shipping, trade, and so on. The governments of both counties share similar interests in relation to addressing the socioeconomic needs and aspirations of the people of both countries. These and ongoing efforts have been to elevate trade and commercial relations. In this regard, a Cuban Economic Assistance Package was signed at the beginning of 2012 as a key driver to propel trade and commercial activity between the two countries.
Cabinet saw this gesture as a reciprocation effort and a modest contribution by South Africa, given the massive assistance and sacrifices made by Cubans for South Africa's liberation and indeed postapartheid assistance they've provided. Parliament, for its part, approved the agreement for ratification at the end of 2012. Politically, this agreement is the first of its kind that South Africa has signed with any other partner.
The committee had this matter on its agenda for some time, and the issues discussed ranged from the selfless sacrifice of the Cuban people during our struggle for liberation to the strong political and solidarity commitment the Cuban people have made towards South Africa, ranging to South Africa's ongoing commitment to reciprocate this relationship in its relations with Cuba.
In 2013 alone, the committee had two sessions on its programme to debate the challenges facing this relationship and therefore Cuba. We invited various representatives from civil society and all other sectors of our society to engage on this matter. In 2011, the Speaker referred a request to us as the committee from the Free State Provincial Legislature, in which they requested Parliament to pass a resolution calling for the lifting of the economic embargo on Cuba and the release of the Cuban Five. In response to this request and indeed as part of our ongoing programme, the committee held its dialogue on these matters focusing on South Africa-Cuba relations, including, of course, the matter of the Cuban Five and their economic embargo.
Additionally, there were at that time also various reports in the media about South Africa's economic co-operation and its assistance to Cuba. The dialogue was focused on successes and challenges towards the implementation of processes aimed at kick-starting economic progress in Cuba and South Africa. And the committee had previously discussed the role that South Africa could play in strengthening bilateral relations with Cuba. However, an oversight concern arose as to why there was seemingly slowness in the implementation progress made in the implementation of this assistance package. I can report to you that following the engagements we had in the past couple of weeks, there has been progress registered and that the speed has picked up considerably in terms of the implementation of this agreement.
In its meeting last week, the committee then resolved to recommend to the House that Parliament should: continue to support efforts by our government to call for the lifting of the economic embargo against Cuba and the release of the Cuban Five; also lead efforts to co-ordinate and strengthen interparliamentary efforts in all its forums where it is represented in support of this course; as the representative of the people, mobilise civil society around these issues; and call for the support and speeding up of the implementation of the Economic Assistance Package, as well as that the committee should submit a resolution to the House on the matter of Cuba. Thank you so much.
There was no debate.
Hon House Chair, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.