WEDNESDAY, 28 MARCH 2001: Mr Nitin Desai, The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, arrived in South Africa today, on a five-day official visit. The visit of Mr Desai, who is head of the United Nations Commission of Sustainable Development (UNCSD), is the first of a series of country visits to South Africa since the decision by the UN General Assembly that South Africa should host the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.

During his visit Mr Desai will, among others, hold discussions with the following sectors:

• Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Foreign Affairs to share insight into the preparations for the World Summit.
• The Sandton Convention Centre, which will be the official venue for the Heads of States meeting of the Summit.
• The Johannesburg Metro and Gauteng Provincial Government, as to their logistical preparedness for the hosting of the summit.
• Business Forum for Sustainable Development and South African NGOs on their role and contribution towards the preparations as well as their participation at the Summit.
• The Mayor of Johannesburg, Mr Amos Masondo; the Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr Crispian Olver; and the CEO of the Johannesburg Earth Summit Company, Mr Moss Mashishi, will hold a media briefing to report back on the visit.

All media invited to attend the media briefing on the outcome of the visit.