|
President Thabo Mbeki to host Mozambican President Armando Guebuza
for the Heads of State Economic Bilateral Meeting, Presidential Guesthouse, Pretoria,
South Africa, Friday, 15 - Saturday, 16 April 2005 Pretoria - South African
President Thabo Mbeki will host his Mozambican counterpart, President Armando
Guebuza on a working visit from Friday - Saturday, 15-16 April 2005 during which
both Presidents will co-chair the Heads of State Economic Bilateral Meeting at
the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Friday, 15 April. President
Guebuza's visit to South Africa is the first since his recent election as Mozambique's
President succeeding President Joachim Chissano. The Economic Bilateral Meeting
was established in 1997 to help strengthen and consolidate economic bilateral
relations between South Africa and Mozambique and within the overall objective
of working for the renewal of Africa and a better world. President Mbeki
will be accompanied by Ministers Jeff Radebe, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Lulu Xingwana,
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka whilst President Guebuza will
be accompanied by Mozambican Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Interior,
Transport and Communications, Industry and Commerce, Energy and Minister in the
Presidency for Diplomatic Affairs The meeting will identify potential macro-economic
projects in Mozambique whilst evaluating progress and ensure the successful implementation
of ongoing projects in the fields of labour and migration, transport and communication,
energy, environment and tourism spatial development initiatives (SDI's), trade
and industry, and agriculture since the last meeting held on 27 August 2003 in
Pemba, Mozambique. The following agreements will be signed on conclusion
of discussions between both delegations: - The Memorandum of Understanding
on Co-operation in the Industry and Trade Programmes;
- The Agreement on
the Waiver of Visa Requirements for Holders of Ordinary Passport
Bilateral
Economic Relations Mozambique is South Africa's second largest export
market in Africa, with trade having increased dramatically over the last few years.
South Africa is currently Mozambique's largest investor with Foreign Direct Investment
amounting to R8 billion, representing 247 projects. The Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) has been utilised by the Government of South Africa as the primary
catalyst for South African investment in Mozambique. To date, the IDC has approved
funding for 10 projects geographically spread throughout Mozambique and is currently
considering/investigating 6 additional projects in the country. The spread ranges
from mining and mineral beneficiation, agriculture, tourism, chemicals, forestry,
transport infrastructure to energy. The Mozal Aluminium Smelter (Mozal 1
and II) remains the IDC's largest investment outside the borders of South Africa.
Another major project funded by the IDC is the titanium-bearing mineral sands
in southern Mozambique (US$ 600 million). Other major investments of South African
origin in Mozambique are: - Sasol Gas Pipeline Project (US$ 1.4 billion);
- US$50 million investment by SABMiller in beer factories in Maputo and
Beira;
- US$63 million by Illovo Sugar in Maragra sugar mill;
- Xinavane
(US$ 70 million);
- CDM (US$ 22 million); and
- US$15,5 million
investment by McCormack to construct Matola Plaza outside Maputo.
The
Natural Gas Pipeline project has provided South Africa with an inexpensive source
of energy which has already been earmarked to serve the Gauteng area whilst enabling
Mozambique to reduce the trade deficit. Likewise the Mozal Aluminium Smelter
is providing South African investors with a substantial return on their investment,
whilst the Mozambican economy benefits significantly from the export of aluminium
produced at the Mozal I and II Smelters. Trade statistics | Year | SA
Exports Values (MN) | SA Import Values (MN) | | 2000 |
R 4 996 925 000,00 | R362 847 000,00 | | 2001 | R5
774 064 000,00 | R303 905 000,00 | | 2002 | R6
418 899 000,00 | R403 165 000,00 | | 2003 | R5
676 203 000,00 | R280 806 000,00 | | 2004 | R5
077 739 000,00 | R204 845 000,00 |
Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853. Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 14 April 2005
Media
Programme for the South Africa - Mozambique Economic Bilateral Heads of State
Meeting, Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, 15 April 2005
Friday, 15
April 2005 08:00 Arrival of media at Waterkloof Airforce Base (please
present media cards on arrival)
Venue : Waterkloof Airforce Base
Pretoria Contact
: Hugo Lambrechts on 084 890 8022 09:00 Arrival of President Armando Guebuza 09:30
Arrival of media for photo opportunity ahead of South Africa - Mozambique Economic
Bilateral Meeting to be co-chaired by Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Armando Guebuza
(please
present media cards on arrival) Venue: Presidential Guesthouse
Bryntirion
Estate
(Enter through Gate 9 on Church Street)
Pretoria Contact:
Hugo Lambrechts on 084 890 8022
Malerato Sekha on 082 467 8579 10:00
Arrival of President Armando Guebuza To be received by President Thabo Mbeki 11:30
Arrival of media for signing ceremony and press conference on conclusion of SA-Mozambique
Economic Bilateral Meeting
(please present media cards on arrival) Venue:
Presidential Guesthouse
Bryntirion Estate
(Enter through Gate 9 on Church
Street)
Pretoria Contact: Hugo Lambrechts on 084 890 8022
Malerato
Sekha on 082 467 8579 12:00 Signing Ceremony Press Conference For
further information contact - Hugo Lambrechts on 084 890 8022
- Malerato
Sekha on 082 467 8579
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 14 April 2005
| 
