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President Thabo Mbeki Arrives in Chile Ahead of State Visit,
Tuesday, 7 - Wednesday, 8 June 2005 Santiago - South African President and
Mrs. Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, Minister Mosiuoa
Lekota, Deputy Minister Lindiwe Hendriks and a senior government officials' delegation
arrived in Chile, today, Tuesday 7 June 2005 ahead of the scheduled state visit
to the country on Tuesday - Wednesday, 7-8 June 2005. The visit is aimed
at strengthening the political and economic relations between South Africa and
Chile in the context of building South-South relations whilst mobilising further
support for NEPAD and African peace initiatives. President Mbeki will later
today hold political and economic discussions with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos
Escobar to discuss, among others: · The status of bilateral political
and economic relations between both countries and ways of expanding already strong
relations;
· The co-operation between South Africa and Chile in advancing
the developmental agenda of the South;
· African developments including
NEPAD
· Co-operation of the defence forces with the focus on the areas
of peacekeeping and disaster management;
· People-to-people co-operation
through culture, sport and academic exchanges; and
· The reform of
global governance including the United Nations and all its institutions. President
Mbeki will also have an opportunity to hold discussions with the President of
the Supreme Court Marcos Libedinsky and interact with captains of industry during
a business luncheon hosted by the President of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce
Carlos Jorquiera. During the visit, President Mbeki will be declared the
Guest of Honour of the City of Santiago before being awarded an Honorary Doctorate
at the University of Chile. On Wednesday 8 June 2005, President Mbeki is
scheduled to address a joint sitting of the Chilean Houses of Congress - the Senate
and Chamber of Deputies - in Valparaiso. Bilateral Economic Relations Rapid
growth in recent years has seen large foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into
Chile. It is estimated that about US$8 billion in FDI is related to companies
with South African links, like Anglo-American and Liberty - Mutual. While
South Africa is a modest market for Chilean exports, South Africa is, by far,
Chile's largest African trading partner with 60 percent of Chile's exports to
Africa destined for South Africa. Bilateral trade between South Africa and Chile
is concentrated in the primary and semi-processed metal, chemical and agricultural
(herbicide/insecticide) sectors. The top export from South Africa by far is steel
and steel products, which amounts to 61,6 percent of total exports. | | South
African Exports | South African Imports | Total
Bilateral Trade | | 2004 | US$85
700 000 | US$48 000 000 | US$133
700 000 | | 2003 | US$57
7000 000 | US$58 200 000 | US$115
900 000 | | 2002 | US$46
946 674 | US$36 423 070 | US$83
369 744 | | 2001 | US$52
999 000 | US$32 941 000 | US$85
940 000 | | | | | |
Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
7 June 2005
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