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South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma Hosts Omani Counterpart for Bilateral Discussions, 2 September 2005 Tshwane:
South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will host
her Omani counterpart, Mr Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah for bilateral political
and economic discussions at the Presidential Guest House in Tshwane on Friday,
2 September 2005. The visit comes in the context of South Africa's commitment
to strengthening economic ties between South Africa and countries in the Gulf.
Earlier in May 2005, Minister Dlamini Zuma paid a visit to the Gulf States including
Oman in December 2004. Issues on the agenda of the bilateral
discussions are expected to include amongst others: - The status of bilateral
political and economic relations between South Africa and the Sultanate of Omani
- Latest Developments on UN Reform
- Co-operation between the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)
- Update
on the situation in the Middle East
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS - An
Agreement on Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion to Taxes on
Income signed on 9 October 2002
- A Military Co-operation Agreement signed
on 12 March 2002
Other bilateral agreements across a range of issues
are currently being negotiated in the arts and culture field, air services, trade
and investment, science and technology and shipping and other marine issues. ECONOMIC
RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND OMAN Oman is a member of the Gulf Co-operation
Council (GCC), a grouping of oil- producing regional countries which also includes
Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. South Africa's bilateral trade
with Oman remains very low. During the twelve months until the end of April 2005,
South African exports reached R135.1 million and its imports from Oman only R31.6
million. About 70% of South Africa's exports consist of iron and steel products,
while imports from Oman are wide-ranging. The comparative
figures over the last five years are as follows: | Year | SA
Exports | SA Imports | | 2000 |
R54.8 million | R2.5 million | | 2001 | R50.6
million | R217.3 million | | 2002 | R192.8
million | R18.4 million | | 2003 | R110.3
million | R12.9 million | | 2004 | R171
million | R24.7 million |
As
part of strengthening people-to-people relations, South Africa has an approximate
350 strong community engaged in a range of professions such as doctors, nurses,
teachers, engineers and managers in Oman. Issued by Nomfanelo
Kota on 082 459 3787 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag x152
Pretoria
0001 31
August 2005 | 
