President Thabo Mbeki to Pay Working Visit to Singapore, Thursday 21 April 2005

Jakarta - President Mbeki will interrupt his visit to Indonesia by paying a working visit to Singapore tomorrow, Thursday, 21 April 2005 for bilateral political and economic discussions with his counterpart, President SR Nathan.

President Mbeki will be accompanied by Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
President Mbeki will also hold discussions with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on conclusion of which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between both countries.

President Mbeki is also expected to receive a courtesy call from Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, meet with Singaporean Captains of Industry and deliver a public address organised by the Singaporean Foreign Ministry and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Economic Bilateral Relations

Bilateral Trade Statistics (ZA Rand'000) (Source DTI)

YEAR SA Exports SA Imports Total Trade
1994 1,260,470 996,974 2,257,444
1995 1,092,420 1,178,756 2,271,176
1996 1,619,106 1,278,367 2,897,473
1997 1,108,666 1,187,730 2,296,396
1998 830,311 1,610,225 2,440,536
1999 1,039,374 1,372,309 2,411,683
2000 1,581,939 1,459,267 3,041,206
2001 839,156 2,233,000 4,072,156
2002 1,796,017 2,155,132 3,951,149

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
? Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
20 April 2005