Minister Dlamini Zuma to host Belarussian Counterpart Foreign
Minister Sergey Martynov Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma will host her Belarussian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergey Martynov
for bilateral political and economic discussions at the Presidential Guesthouse
in Pretoria on Monday, 28 August 2006. Minister Dlamini Zuma will host Minister
Martynov within the context of South Africa's priority to promote bilateral political,
economic and trade relations with countries of the world with a view to ensuring
a faster and shared economic growth in South Africa. Issues of the agenda
of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Martynov on Monday 28 August
2006 are expected to include, among others: - The status of bilateral
political and economic relations between the two countries;
- A brief by
Minister Dlamini Zuma regarding developments in the region, including the outcomes
of the SADC Summit;
- Democracy building, good governance, peacekeeping
and conflict resolution in Africa including post-election Democratic Republic
of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Sudan, and Burundi;
- developments in eastern
Europe;
- The Middle East conflict; and
- Other issues of global interest
including United Nations Security Council reform.
While in South Africa
Minister Martynov is also expected to hold discussions with Ministers Mandisi
Mphalwa, Dr Pallo Jordan and Mosioua Lekota. It is also expected that the
following agreements will be signed during the visit to South Africa by Minister
Martynov: - Establishment of a Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation
(Trade and Industry);
- Waiver of Visa Requirements for holders of diplomatic
and official passports (Home Affairs);
- Co-operation in the fields of Arts
and Culture (Arts and Culture); and
- Agreement on Military and Technical
Co-operation (Defence).
Minister Martynov is expected to depart from
South Africa on Wednesday 30 August 2006. Economic Bilateral Relations Trade
between South Africa and Belarus (all figures in ZAR) Year | South
African Exports | South African Imports | 2004 | R3
437 000 | R20 251 000 | 2003 | R2
232 000 | R 2 681 000 | 2002 |
R1 398 000 | R 6 035 000 | 2001 | R1
191 000 | R 2 292 000 | 2000 | R
129 000 | R 1 869 000 | 1999 |
R 96 000 | R 12 000 | 1998 | R
256 000 | R 2 600 000 |
Total
Trade Turnover 2004 R- 23. 68 million Total Trade Turnover 1st Quarter.
2005 R- 3.41 million South Africa imports potassium fertilisers, refrigerators,
flax fabrics, truck and tractor spare parts, while it exports diamonds, veneer
sheets, organic chemicals, vehicle spare parts and capital goods. Belarus
is interested in investigating the opportunities for Joint Ventures, the exchange
of technologies and the exploration of new competitive markets. Issued by
Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs Private
Bag X152 Pretoria 0001 24 August 2006
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