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President Thabo Mbeki to Sign Agreement Between South Africa
and Sudan, Thursday, 30 December 2004 - Saturday, 1 January 2005 Khartoum
- South African President Thabo Mbeki today, Thursday - 30 December 2004 - arrived
here where he will lead a high-level government and business delegation on an
official visit today until Saturday, 1 January 2005. President Mbeki's delegation
includes Mrs Zanele Mbeki, and Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Mosiuoa Lekota,
Mandisi Mpahlwa and Deputy Minister Lulu Xingwana. 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 following which
a Co-operation Agreement that will lay the basis of the consolidation and expansion
of bilateral relations between South Africa and Sudan will be signed. 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 is scheduled to visit El
Fashir in Darfur during which he will meet with Governor Alawi and local leaders,
the Command of the African Union Ceasefire Commission (AUCFC), the SANDF component
of the AUCFC and visit the Abu Shouk Refugee Camp. President Mbeki will
also receive and Honorary Doctorate from the African International University
and be bestowed with Sudan's Highest Order, the Insignia of Honour (Gold) by President
El Bashir before concluding his visit. 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
30
December 2004 | 
