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Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to Co-Chair South Africa - Italy
Annual Consultation with his Italian Counterpart, Alfredo Luigi Mantica, Pretoria
Monday, 29 November 2004 Pretoria - South African Deputy Foreign Minister
Aziz Pahad will host his Italian counterpart Senator Alfredo Luigi Mantica for
the 2nd session of the South Africa - Italy Annual Consultation on Monday, 29
November 2004 at the Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Guesthouse, Waterkloof (210 Matroosberg
Road) in Pretoria. The SA-Italy Annual Consultation is a newly established
mechanism created to regulate, consolidate and strengthen bilateral political
and economic relations between South Africa and Italy. The two political
principals will exchange views on a variety of bilateral political and economic
issues affecting the two countries as well as: · The African Agenda
including the operationalisation of the African Union (AU) and the implementation
of NEPAD with specific focus on the G-8 Africa Action Plan;
· Conflict
resolution and management on the African continent, including the Great Lakes
Region, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Somalia;
· Developments within the European
Union (EU) with particular reference to the European Constitution and expansion
of the European Union;
· The international fight against terrorism;
·
The reform of the United Nations and all its organs including the Security Council,
World Trade Organisation and International Monetary Fund; and
· And
Developments in the Middle East and Iraq. Bilateral Economic Relations
Italy
is among South Africa's top ten trading partners. According to official SA statistics
during 2003, exports from South Africa to Italy amounted to R7 billion, while
exports from Italy to South Africa totalled R8, 4 billion. Italy was South Africa's
fifth largest export destination and fourth largest supplier of imports. South
Africa's main exports to Italy are gold/precious metals, laminated iron and steel,
coal, as well as machines, non-electrical appliances, meat, fish, fruit and fruit
juices, leather and wool, while South African imports from Italy consist mainly
of machine tools, auto vehicles and components thereof, industrial machinery,
jewelry and telecommunications equipment. There is potential for further
increase in South African exports of metal-based products like platinum, titanium
and ferro-alloys and fish, meat, fruits and fruit juices to Italy.
Issued by
Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853. Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
28 November 2004
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