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Minister Dlamini Zuma concludes Visit
to Kuwait ahead of the Visit to Ethiopia
KUWAIT- South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma, will today, Sunday 5 December conclude
her official visit to Kuwait as part of efforts by South
Africa to expand the frontiers of trade, investment
and tourism in the Middle East and Asia Region, ahead
of her visit to Ethiopia to attend the AU Extra-Ordinary
Session of the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers.
Minister Dlamini Zuma paid a courtesy call on Kuwaiti
Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Jaber Al Sabah before
holding a scheduled political and economic bilateral
discussion with her counterpart Shaikh Mohamed Sabah
Al Salem Al Sabah.
The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the current
situation in Iraq, the Middle East, Sudan, Somalia,
the African Union, the relationship between SADC and
the Gulf Co-operation Council and reform of the United
Nations in the context of the recently released UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan's High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges
and Change.
The two Ministers resolved to encourage the private
sector to take advantage of trade, investment and tourism
opportunities that both countries offer. Currently South
African exports to Kuwait stands at R 170 million while
Kuwait exports to South Africa total R600 million.
The two Ministers are of the view that opportunities
exists for the private sector to explore in expanding
the frontiers of trade, investment and tourism between
the two countries.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will conclude her visit to Kuwait
by holding discussion with the Chairperson of the Kuwaiti
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ali Al Ghanim with
a view to discussing opportunities that South Africa
offers for Kuwaiti business investment.
The two Ministers agreed to expedite discussions leading
to the signing of the following agreements between the
two countries in 2005: Bilateral Trade Agreement; The
Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments;
Air Services Agreement.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853
C/O South African Embassy
Kuwait
5 December 2004
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