Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka depart for Portugal

Pretoria – South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will today Saturday 11 November 2006 depart for Lisbon, Portugal where she is scheduled to pay an official visit from Sunday – Tuesday, 12-14 November 2006. Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will be hosted by her counterpart Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates.

Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka’s delegation will include Minister Naledi Pandor and Deputy Ministers Aziz Pahad, Rob Davies, Ntombazana Botha and Roy Padayachee.

Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka’s visit comes within the context of South Africa’s commitment to consolidate the African agenda, through among others, North-South co-operation for improved trade and market access. In this regard, Portugal will assume the Chairpersonship of the EU from July-December 2007.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and her counterpart are expected to include, among others:
 The status of bilateral political and economic relations between both countries;
 The status of South Africa – European Union relations;
 A briefing on developments on the African continent including the outcomes of the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo and peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Burundi, Somalia, Sudan and Côte d’Ivoire;
 A briefing on developments within the European Union; and
 Others issues of mutual interest including South Africa’s accession to the Non-Permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council.

In Portugal Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will also pay a courtesy call on President Cavaco Silva, the President of Parliament, Jaime Gama, and will participate in a trade and investment seminar with Portuguese and South African business persons.

Bilateral Economic Relations
The most important South African exports to Portugal are coal, steel products, frozen fish, fresh fruit, fruit juices, vegetables, wood and granite. According to the latest figures from the Portuguese Ministry of Economy, South Africa is amongst the top 8 countries with the biggest growth of exports to Portugal during 2005, mostly due to coal imports. South African exports to Portugal increased by 25, 7% (DTI ) during 2005.

South Africa’s main imports from Portugal are wood, cork, paper, ceramics, machinery, food, minerals, metal and chemicals. In 2005, Portuguese exports to South Africa registered a 19, 7% decrease (DTI source).

Investment
South African Investment in Portugal
The largest South African company operating in Portugal is the Abadare Cables subsidiary, Alcobre, that manufactures cables for the telecommunications industry.

The SA property company, Homenet, has an office in Lisbon.

SmartPac, a "smart card" company has an agreement with the local company Prism.

The South African company Netcare established a partnership with the Portuguese private health care company, Private Hospitals of Portugal (HPP) on 2 August 2004.

In addition there are also a number of ostrich breeding companies who have strong Southern African connections as well as various small importing and exporting companies especially in the linen and curtaining industry.

Tsumeb (electronic protection systems and integrated network security solutions) is manufacturing in Aveiro, in the north of Portugal.

Carrol Boyes opened its first European shop in Portugal (Cascais) during June 2005.

Portuguese Investment in South Africa
SONAE
AMORIM
PESTANA GROUP
CIMPOR
CONSTRUTORA DO TÂMEGA
CAIXA GERAL DE DEPÓSITOS (CGD)
BANIF
BPI
BANCO PRIVADO-BPP
BES INVESTIMENTO

SA investment in Portugal (103 EUR)
2003: 791
2002: 516
2001: 2.060

Portuguese investment in SA (103 EUR)
2003: 3.963
2002: 9.645
2001: 3.378

SA trade with Portugal

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

℅ Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

11 November 2006