Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to Hold Discussions with Iranian Counterpart Ahmad Azizi, Tshwane, South Africa Monday, 11 July 2005

Tshwane - South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will tdoay, Monday 11 July 2005 co-chair, with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Ahmad Azizi, the second session of the South Africa - Iran Deputy Ministerial Working Group at the Diplomatic Guesthouse, Tshwane.

This visit comes in the context of efforts by South Africa to expand the frontiers of trade, investment and tourism in the Middle East region.

Issues on the agenda of discussions are expected to include, among others:

• The status of bilateral political and economic relations between both countries;
• The status of co-operation projects between both countries, in the fields of health, tourism and environmental affairs, housing, minerals and energy, transport, arts and culture and disarmament
• The implementation of NEPAD as Africa's socio-economic programme;
• Developments in Africa and the Middle East; and
• Co-operation within the forum of the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR).

While in South Africa, Deputy Minister Ahmad Azizi will also pay courtesy on Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and hold further discussions with Deputy Ministers of Arts and Culture, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Minerals and Energy and Health.

Deputy Minister Azizi will depart from South Africa on Wednesday, 13 July 2005.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Bilateral trade figures for the last three years are as follows: (R 000)

In addition to bilateral trade, several South African companies are involved in major projects in Iran. These include SASOL's gas-to-liquid project and MTN which is negotiating a second mobile license with the Iranian authorities.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
11 July 2005