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President Mbeki to Co-Chair South Africa - Mozambique Heads
of State Economic Bilateral meeting Pretoria - South African President Thabo
Mbeki will on Friday 23 March 2007 host his counterpart Mozambican President Armando
Guebuza, for the South Africa - Mozambique Heads of State Economic Bilateral meeting
at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria. President Mbeki will host this
session of the Heads of State Economic Bilateral meeting within the context of
South Africa's commitment to strengthen and consolidate political, economic and
trade relations with Mozambique with a view to the consolidation of the African
agenda.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Presidents Mbeki and
Guebuza are expected to include, among others: - A review of bilateral
economic relations since the last session of the Economic Bilateral meeting in
June 2006;
- Developments in the following bilateral projects between South
Africa and Mozambique:
- The Cahora-Basa Project;
- The Greater Limpopo
Transfrontier Park (GLTP) / Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and Resource Area
(TFCA) that was officially opened by the three Heads of State of South Africa,
Mozambique and Zimbabwe on 16 August 2006; and
- The Kosi Bay - Ponta do
Ouro Border Post and Transfrontier Conservation Area
- Border post operations
between both countries;
- Fisheries and integrated marine and coastal management
and development; and
- Co-operation in the agricultural sector including
agricultural finance, trade, and commercial farming investment joint venture initiatives.
The
Mozambican economy continues to perform well and expectations are that the average
growth rate of 7% that has been seen over the last ten years will continue. 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. As such, 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 emanated from South Africa and about 12,9% of Mozambique
exports were destined for the South African market. | RSA
/ MOZAMBIQUE TRADE | | Year | Export | Import | | 1994 |
1,771,872 | 92,376 | | 2002
| 6,418,899 | 403,165 | | 2003
| 5,676,203 |
280,806 | | 2004 |
5,077,739 | 204,845 | | 2005 | 56,402,000 | 199,282 |
SOURCE:
THE DTI (November 2006) 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, and 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 investments by McCormack to construct
Matola Plaza outside Maputo.
President Guebuza is scheduled to depart
from South Africa on conclusion of discussions with President Mbeki on Friday
23 March 2007. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department
of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 21 March
2007
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