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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Aziz Pahad to Host Spanish Counterpart, Ramon Gil-Casares,
Pretoria, South Africa, 2 - 3 February 2004
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad will
host his Spanish counterpart, Ramon Gil-Casares for
bilateral political and economic discussions in Pretoria
from Monday, 2nd - Tuesday, 3rd February 2004.
During an official visit to Spain from 5-8 June 2003,
Deputy Minister Pahad invited Deputy Minister Gil-Casares
to visit South Africa in 2004 for a subsequent round
of consultations, together with an interdepartmental
delegation.
Deputy Minister Ramon Gil-Casares will be accompanied
by a delegation of senior officials representing the
various priority sectors of bilateral co-operation programmes
between the two countries, ie tourism and environmental
affairs, trade and industry, science and technology,
arts and culture, home affairs, defence and cooperation.
This visit also follows the successful visit of Deputy
President Jacob Zuma to Spain from 23-25 September 2003
during which it was decided to implement programmes
to strengthen co-operation in the fields mentioned above.
During this visit, Deputy Ministers Pahad and Gil-Casares
will also hold their annual ministerial discussions
in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding on Consultation
that was concluded in 2000.
Issues on the ministerial agenda, include, among others:
the consolidation of bilateral relations between both
countries; the transformation of SADC; the operationalisation
of the African Union (AU) and the implementation of
NEPAD; conflict resolution endeavours on the continent;
the status of European Union (EU) / Africa dialogue;
developments in Europe, the situations in the Mediterranean
Basin including the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Syria and
North Africa; co-operation in the multilateral arena
including matters of United Nations reform, the global
campaign against terrorism and recent developments in
World Trade Organisation Talks.
Bilateral Economic Relations
For the period 1999-2002, Spain was the 18th largest
investor to South Africa having invested US$ 246m (R2,
020 bn). Spain is the 6th export destination for South
Africa for 2003 (up from 10th position in 2002 with
10,9% annual growth). Spain is one of the few EU Member
States with whom South Africa maintains a healthy positive
trade balance, ie 5th position for 2003 up from 10th
position in 2002.
|
2003
|
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
|
2000
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| Exports
to Spain Rm |
1.2
|
|
6.4
|
|
4.6
|
|
3.5
|
| Imports
from Spain Rm |
0.6
|
|
3.5
|
|
2.4
|
|
2.1
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| Trade
Balance Rm |
0.6
|
|
2.9
|
|
2.2
|
|
1.4
|
(Source: DTI web site)
In addition, Spain was the fourth largest new investor
to South Africa for 2002 with the main investment being
that of a consortium of companies, ¨Dragados y Construcciones¨
involved in the construction of the N4 Bakwena Platinum
highway. Spain is also tendering for the Coega Plant.
One of the largest Spanish retail chains, El Cortes
Ingles has invited South Africa to be its theme country
for February 2005. This would entail the purchasing
of products estimated at R90 million from South Africa.
This would present South Africa with an excellent opportunity
for promote its products on the Spanish market in the
medium to long term. The first mission of buyers will
visit South Africa in March 2004.
South African companies already in Spain include: South
African Breweries (SAB), Barlows, Sappi, Anglo American,
Safmarine and Alexander Forbes.
Spain has regularly invested in various strategic projects
in South Africa. During a visit by Minister Valli Moosa
to Spain from 3-7 September 2003 the continued co-operation
between Spain and South Africa in the tourism sector
was investigated. In this regard Spain is already funding
the Tourism Academy in Johannesburg and has donated
R20 million, with a specific interest on building capacity
in previously disadvantaged communities involved in
the tourism sector. During the visit by Minister Moosa
a Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field
of Tourism was signed, which also entails continued
support for the Tourism Academy.
Other projects include rural literacy initiatives,
human resource development, and diplomatic training
projects. Other areas that have been identified for
continued bilateral cooperation include tourism, health,
fishing, environmental affairs and diplomacy.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
? Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
1 February 2004
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