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Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to Host Mozambican Counterpart, Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Dr Eduardo Koloma Pretoria
- South African Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad will hold bilateral political and economic
discussions with his Mozambican counterpart, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Co-operation Dr Eduardo Koloma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday,
23 June 2006. Discussions between Deputy Ministers Pahad and Koloma take
place within the context of South Africa's commitment to consolidate relations
with countries of the region with a view to achieving the African developmental
agenda. Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy Ministers Pahad
and Koloma are expected to include, among others: - Bilateral political
and economic relations between both countries;
- Preparations for President
Mbeki's visit to Mozambique on 29 June 2006 where he will co-chair the South Africa
- Mozambique Economic Bilateral Forum;
- Regional developments; and
- Other
issues of mutual interest.
South Africa and Mozambique share views
on a number of issues affecting the SADC region and the African continent including
the implementation of NEPAD. Both countries have also shown their united political
commitment to work towards the cessation of armed conflicts on the African continent,
inter alia through the successful deployment of South African and Mozambican troops
in a peacekeeping capacity in Burundi. Deputy Minister Koloma is expected
to depart from South Africa on the evening of the 23 June 2006. Bilateral
Economic Relations Total exports by South Africa to Mozambique by 2005
were valued at R6, 402 billion. South Africa imported goods from Mozambique to
the value of R199, 282 million in the same period. The trade balance is positively
in favour of South Africa. South Africa and Mozambique's economic relationship
is the strongest in the Southern Africa region. In 2005 statistics show that 41,4%
of Mozambique's imports eminated from South Africa and about 12,9% of Mozambique
exports were destined for South Africa SOUTH AFRICA - MOZAMBIQUE TRADE
| Year | Export | Import | | 2002 | 6,418,899 |
403,165 | | 2003 | 5,676,203 |
280,806 | | 2004 | 5,077,739
| 204,845 | | 2005 | 6,402,000
| 199,282 |
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.
Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 22 June 2006 | 
