President Thabo Mbeki Hosts Working Visit by the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré Pretoria, South Africa Monday, 12 - Wednesday, 14 July 2004

The President of Burkina Faso, H E Mr Blaise Compaoré will pay a working visit to South Africa from Monday,12 - Wednesday, 14 July 2004. This will be the first high level visit between South Africa and Burkina Faso.

President Compaoré will meet with President Mbeki in Pretoria on Tuesday 13 July 2004 during which the two Presidents will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern. The Burkina Faso delegation is expected to include the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Co-operation, Yssouf Ouedraogo and the Minister of Mines and Power, Kadre Cisee. The South African delegation is expected to include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkozasana Dlamini Zuma; Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Phumlize Mlambo-Ngcuka and Minister of Labour, Mr Membathisi Mdladlana.

President Compaoré will also update President Mbeki on Burkina Faso's preparations to host the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the African Union on Labour and Poverty Reduction in Ouagadougou from 9 -14 September 2004. Burkina Faso was chosen to host this important regional conference at the Summit of the African Union in Maputo, Mozambique, in July 2003.

The Presidents will also use the opportunity to discuss the security situation in the West African sub-region, in particular the situations in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia. Discussions will also centre around efforts by the sub-regional grouping, ECOWAS, as well as the growing role of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), in addressing conflicts on the continent. South Africa is currently holds the revolving chair of the PSC for the month of July.

Establishment of diplomatic relations

During January 2004, Ambassador B N Zidouemba of Burkina Faso (based in Addis Ababa) presented his credentials to President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria. South Africa's Ambassador in Abidjan, Ambassador G D Gwadiso, was accredited to Burkina Faso on 30 July 2002. No bilateral high level visits have taken place between South Africa and Burkina Faso, however the President and Ministers have attended multilateral conferences only. President Blaise Compaoré has attended multilateral conferences in South Africa as well as attending the Presidential inauguration on 27 April 2004.

Economic Relations

Visible economic interaction between Burkina Faso and South Africa is limited. Though Burkina Faso has limited exploitable resources, opportunities exist for South African mining companies for mining deposits of gold, zinc and manganese. A South African company, METOREX, has acquired the joint venture, BILLITON Burkina Faso, in 1999 to develop a zinc-mining operation in Perkoa (central Burkina). Since Agriculture is the dominant industry, opportunities exist for trade of various agricultural produce. Spoornet is one of the few large companies to be involved in Burkina Faso.

Trade between South Africa and Burkina Faso is limited. In terms of total trade with South Africa, Burkina Faso is South Africa's 11th largest partner in the West African region. South Africa's total trade with Burkina Faso in 2003 amounted to 35 million (ZAR).

Trade statistics

Export Values (MN)

2001 : R26 million
2002 : R21 million
2003 : R32 million

Import Values (MN)

2001 : R2 million
2002 : R1 million
2003 : R3 million

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

9 July 2004