Deputy
President Mlambo-Ngcuka to pay Official Visit to South Korea Pretoria
- South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will today, Tuesday,
1 May 2007 depart for Seoul, South Korea where she will pay an official visit
scheduled from Wednesday-Friday 2-4 May 2007. Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will
be hosted by Prime Minister Han Duck Soo. Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka's
delegation is expected to include Ministers Ivy Matsepe-Casaburi, Membathisi Mdlalana
and Buyelwa Sonjica. Deputy Ministers Aziz Pahad, Gert Oosthuizen, Rob Davies
and Derek Andre Hanekom will also join the delegation. Deputy President
Mlambo-Ngcuka's visit to South Korea comes within the context of national efforts
to ensure a faster and shared economic growth through AsgiSA and JIPSA. Accordingly,
Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka's visit to South Korea will focus on the promotion
of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA), and
is also aimed at obtaining institutional support for the Joint Initiative for
Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). Issues on the agenda of discussions
between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and Prime Minister
Han are also expected
to include, among others:
- The status of bilateral political, economic
and trade relations between both countries;
- A briefing by Deputy President
Mlambo-Ngcuka on the African agenda including the African Union and the implementation
of NEPAD;
- Increased co-operation in the field of science and technology;
and
- Global issues of common interest including nuclear non-proliferation
and the comprehensive reform of the United Nations.
While in South
Korea, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka is also expected to pay a courtesy call
on President ROH Moo-hyun. Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will also address
and investment seminar, visit the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology,
hold discussions with representatives of the Division for International Higher
Education, visit the LG Electronics Industrial site and lay a wreath at the National
Memorial Board. Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka is expected to return to
South Africa on Saturday 5 May 2007. Bilateral Economic Relations
There
is potential for the following South African products and services within the
Korean market:
- Agro-processed goods: meat, vegetables, mohair,
wine, juice and tea
- Automotive parts: aftermarket for imported foreign
cars & OEM
- Jewellery: pieces, gold, diamonds, platinum
- Chemicals
- Pharmaceuticals,
skin and hair care products
- Arts & craft
- Capital equipment
/ services
- Electro technical equipment / service
- Defence equipment
- Services
/ franchising
Korean investment in South Africa is in total approximately
R5,8 bn. Sectors attracting Korean investment are varied and include, amongst
others, the manufacture of audio equipment, stainless steel, auto components,
nuts and bolts, building material as well as leather garments and footwear. Perhaps
the best testimony of the increasing Korean interest in South Africa in recent
years and a sign that further Korean investments will follow in future has been
the establishment in South Africa of branch offices by several Korean conglomerates
, for example LG, Samsung, Hyundai and SK. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on
082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 1
May 2007
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