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President Thabo Mbeki to Pay Official Visit to Sudan, Khartoum
Thursday, 30 December 2004 - Saturday, 1 January 2005 Pretoria - South African
President Thabo Mbeki is scheduled to depart from South Africa on Thursday, 30
December 2004 to lead a high-level government and business delegation on an official
visit to Khartoum, Sudan from Thursday, 30 December 2004 - 1 January 2005. President
Mbeki's delegation includes Mrs Zanele Mbeki, and Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma, Mosiuoa Lekota, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Mandisi Mpahlwa. South
Africa currently chairs the African Union (AU) Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction
of the War-Affected Areas in Sudan. The visit to Sudan will, accordingly,
provide an excellent opportunity for President Mbeki and his counterpart President
Omar Hassan Ahmed el-Bashir, to discuss:
· The work of the African Union
(AU) Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction of War Affected Areas in Sudan;
· The Sudanese North-South peace process at Naivasha; and
·
The AU-sponsored peace process in Abuja to resolve the conflict situation in Darfur,
Western Sudan. Consequently, the visit to Sudan must be understood within
the context of the expected conclusion of the Naivasha Comprehensive Peace Agreement
between both the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement
(SPLM) scheduled for 31 December 2004. The signing of the Naivasha Agreement
will therefore, herald a new dawn in Sudan's political and economic development. In
this regard, South Africa has already committed itself to provide, together with
the University of South Africa (UNISA), training for the SPLM leadership and other
cadres to equip them with skills and experience that will enable them to participate
equitably in the Transitional National Government of the Sudan. In addition
the two Presidents will also have an opportunity to discuss strategic bilateral
political and economic relations between South Africa and Sudan. In this
context, the trade balance between the two countries is currently in South Africa's
favour with exports to Sudan for 2003 totalling R296 774 000 and R190 000 000
for the first six months of 2004. Imports from Sudan, on the other hand, stand
at R2 552 000 for 2003 and R668 000 for the first six months of 2004. President
Mbeki is also poised to address a special sitting of Sudan's National Assembly,
receive a briefing from the Sudanese leadership on the respective peace processes
for South Sudan and Darfur, and inaugurate the Chancery of the South African Mission
in Khartoum. President Mbeki and his delegation will return to South Africa
on Saturday, 1 January 2005. Bilateral Economic Relations A growing
number of South African companies have shown an interest in Sudan, viz:
·
Global Railway Engineering Consortium of South Africa, which concluded a US$21
million contract with the Sudanese Railway Corporation for the rehabilitation
of railways and rolling stock on 9 December 2004. Funding for the venture has
been secured from Rand Merchant Bank;
· SOEKOR; and
· PETROSA,
which in May 2004 signed an agreement with the Sudanese state oil company, SUDAPET,
for exclusive oil concession rights for Block 14. PETROSA has also concluded a
capacity building agreement for the development of technical staff in Sudan. South
African exports to Sudan include base metals, machinery, vehicles, wood pulp,
plastics and chemicals. Imports from Sudan include vegetables, animal fats, plastics
and machinery. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of
Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
28 December 2004
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