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Minister Dlamini Zuma to pay Official Visit to Slovakia Berlin
- South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Sunday 10 June
2007 depart from Germany for Bratislava, Slovakia where she is scheduled to pay
an official visit from Monday - Tuesday 11-12 June 2007. Minister Dlamini Zuma
will be hosted by Foreign Minister Jan Kubis. Minister Dlamini Zuma was
in Heiligendamm, Germany where she provided support to President Thabo Mbeki at
the G-8 + 5 and G-8 Africa Outreach sessions of the annual Summit of the G-8. Minister
Dlamini Zuma will visit Slovakia within the context of South Africa's commitment
to strengthen and consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations
with countries of Europe. Issues on the agenda of discussions between Foreign
Ministers Jan Kubis and Dlamini Zuma are expected to include, among others:
The
status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between both countries;
A
briefing by Minister Kubis on developments within the European Union;
A briefing
by Minister Dlamini Zuma on developments within Africa in general and SADC in
particular;
Conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa;
The comprehensive
reform of the United Nations; and
Other issues of mutual concern including
the Middle East. While in Slovakia, Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to
pay a courtesy call on President Ivan Gasparovic and Prime Minister Robert Fico. Minister
Dlamini Zuma is scheduled to return to South Africa on Thursday 13 June 2007 ahead
of the State Visit to South Africa by President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Bilateral Economic Relations
Trade between South Africa
and Slovakia has grown steadily over the years. The turnover from 2003
to 2006 was US$113.165 million. The percentage increase in trade for the years
mentioned rose by 358.7 from Slovakia. The trade balance was US$72.653, in favour
of Slovakia. In the year 2005 - 2006, Slovakia traded with a surplus of
US$ 29.045 million which illustrate the seriousness with which Slovakia is making
in roads in the South African trade competitiveness. Imports from South
Africa for the period 2006, amounted to US$22.309 million and consisted mainly
of the following commodities: edible fruit and nuts; mineral fuel, mineral oils
and products of their distillations; vehicles and vehicle parts, iron and steel;
salt, sulphur and plastering material; wool and fine or coarse hair and electrical
machinery. The value of total trade between South Africa and Slovakia amounted
to US$92 909 million: Trade between Slovakia and South Africa for the period
2003 - 2006 | Year | Slovak
Exports (R'000 000) | Slovak Imports (R'000
000) | Total/US$ 000 | | 2003
| 12.994 | 7.262 | 20.256 | | 2004 | 44.225 | 10.221 | 54.446 | |
2005 | 53.110 | 10.754 | 63.864 | | 2006 | 70.600 | 22.309 | 92.909 |
Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 10 June 2007 | 
