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Minister Dlamini Zuma concludes Visit
to Oman ahead of Official Visit to Kuwait
Oman - South Africa Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma concluded her official visit to Oman on
Friday, 3 December 2004 ahead of her scheduled visit
to Kuwait.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is on a four-nation visit to
the Middle East and Asia Region to expand the frontiers
of trade, investment and tourism between South Africa
on the one hand and Oman, Kuwait, Indonesia and Iran
on the other.
In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma held bilateral
trade and economic discussions with Omani Minister of
Commerce and Industry, Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan and
Minister of National Economy Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki.
The bilateral meetings discussed areas of co-operation
for the mutual benefit of South Africa and Oman focusing
on Science and Technology, Tourism, Education, Minerals
and Energy, Agro-Industry, Manufacturing, Fisheries
and the IT Sector.
Minister Dlamini Zuma and Ministers Maqbool Sultan
and Ahmed Macki agreed on the need to expedite the signing
of several agreements in the year 2005 between South
Africa and Oman including:
- Bilateral Trade Agreement;
- Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments;
- Scientific and Technical Co-operation; and
- The Air Services Agreement.
The Ministers further agreed to encourage interaction
between South African and Omani private sector to take
advantage of the great potential and opportunities that
exists in both countries.
In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma met with several
leading Omani business leaders and briefed them on existing
opportunities in South Africa. Omani business leaders
agreed to visit South Africa with the Omani business
delegation in 2005.
During the visit to Oman Minister Dlamini Zuma also
cemented the bilateral political relations between South
Africa and Oman. In this context, Minister Dlamini Zuma
paid a courtesy call on Omani Deputy Prime Minister
Fahd Mahmood al Said and held discussions with the Omani
Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah.
The two Ministers exchanged views on global multilateral
developments as well as the situation in Iraq, the Middle
East, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), the AU, SADC
and NEPAD.
Both Ministers agreed to continue consulting on issues
of global, regional and continental matters of concern.
During her visit to Oman, Minister Dlamini Zuma also
paid a visit to historical, religious and cultural sites.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will depart Oman today, Friday,
3 December 2004 for Kuwait.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
3 December 2004
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