Minister Dlamini Zuma to co-host South Africa - Iran Joint Bilateral Commission

Tshwane - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will together with her Iranian counterpart Foreign Minister Manoucher Motakki co-chair the South Africa-Iran Joint Bilateral Commission scheduled for Monday - Tuesday 21 - 22 August 2006 at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will co-chair this session of the SA-Iran JBC within the context of South Africa's commitment to promoting South-South Co-operation with a view to consolidating the African Agenda. In this regard South Africa has prioritised the promotion of South-South co-operation for increased market access, trade and investment.

There has been a significant increase in bilateral trade since the 8th JBC meeting held in Tehran, Iran in 2004. Iranian health professionals have been contracted to augment South Africa's own capacity in the sector while South African companies continue to benefit from major investments in Iran. These include multimillion-dollar projects by Sasol and MTN.

In 2005, annual exports from South Africa to Iran amounted to 785.2 million rand compared to 301.4 million rand in 2003 and 348.8 million rand in 2004. The trade imbalance in Iran's favour, however, remains high. Last year, South Africa imported 14.3 billion rand from Iran, chief amongst which was oil, which means that the current trade imbalance with Iran is 13.5 billion rand.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Mottaki are expected to include, amongst others:
· Status of bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries including further co-operation with respect to health services, mining, science, arts, culture and sports;
· South Africa's Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiatives;
· Iran's nuclear programme;
· Current crisis in the Middle East;
· The forthcoming meeting of the New African and Asian Strategic Partnership scheduled for Durban; and
· Close co-operation amongst the countries that constitute the Indian Ocean Rim.

While in South Africa, Foreign Minister Mottaki is expected to hold further discussions with Ministers Buyelwa Sonjica, Mandisi Mpahlwa and Mosibudi Mangena. Minister Mottaki will also hold discussions with the CEO of Sasol and attend the Indian Ocean Rim working group of Heads of Missions resident in South Africa. It is also expected that an agreement on co-operation between the customs administrations of the two countries would be signed. Minister Mottaki is expected to depart South Africa on Tuesday 22 August 2006.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
20 August 2006

EINDE