Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka to Host Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau for Bilateral Political and Economic Discussions

Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today Sunday 5 August 2007 announced that Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will on Monday 6 August 2007 hold bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart from Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Martinho Dafa Cabi at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria. Prime Minister Cabi will pay a Working Visit to South Africa from Sunday - Saturday 5-11 August 2007.

Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will host Prime Minister Cabi within the context of South Africa's commitment to consolidate bilateral, political, economic and trade relations with all African countries as part of efforts of consolidating the African Agenda, said Minister Dlamini Zuma.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and Prime Minister Cabi are expected to include, among others:

• The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between South Africa and Guinea Bissau;
• The opening of a South African Diplomatic Mission in Guinea Bissau in December 2007 and the role this will play towards the consolidation and expansion of these relations;
• Developments in western and southern Africa; and

Through the India-Brazil-South Africa Facility for Hunger and Poverty Alleviation, South Africa is involved in the development of the agricultural and livestock sectors in Guinea-Bissau. The project was launched in 2004, as a South-South Co-operation project meant to assist in the upliftment of Bissau-Guinean society. It is administered by the United Nations Development Programme.

The purpose of the IBSA Fund is to implement duplicable, phased projects in needy developing countries. In Guinea-Bissau, the project aims to achieve the following results:

• Reduction of the country's rice deficit
• Improvement and diversification of horticulture
• Improvement of short-cycle livestock production
• Promotion and development of small and medium scale agro-industry

While in South Africa Prime Minister Cabi will participate in a South Africa - Guinea Bissau Business Forum hosted by Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa and hold discussions with the leadership of the African National Congress.

Prime Minister Cabi will depart from South Africa on Saturday 11 August 2007.

Bilateral economic relations

SOUTH AFRICA EXPORTS TO GUINEA-BISSAU
Export values R 14, 169 million (2006)
R 3, 479 million (2005)
R 3, 768 million (2004)

SOUTH AFRICA IMPORTS FROM GUINEA-BISSAU
Import values R 0,416 million (2006)
R 0,003 million (2005)
R 1 million (2004)

Total trade between SA & Guinea-Bissau

R 14.485 million (2006)
R 3, 482 million (2005)
R 4.768 million (2004)

The South African business sector can play a crucial part in the development of the processing capacity of Guinea-Bissau in the area of cashew nuts and fish.

The country has an abundant supply of unexploited natural resources such as bauxite, phosphates, unexplored crude oil, fresh water and highly fertile soil suitable for agricultural activity. There are also opportunities in the banking sector, electricity generation and the development of infrastructure such as roads, ports and bridges.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

5 August 2007