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Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka to Co-Chair South Africa – Sweden Binational Commission
Pretoria – South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will on Tuesday 2 October 2007 depart for Stockholm, Sweden where she will, together with her counterpart Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson, co-chair the 5th session of the South Africa – Sweden Binational Commission scheduled from Wednesday – Thursday 3-4 October 2007.
Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will co-chair this session of the SA-Sweden BNC within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen and consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Sweden with a view to a faster and shared economic growth.
Accordingly, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will use her visit to Sweden to build sustainable relations, especially in the light of the transformation of the development cooperation relations, promote economic relations, with special emphasis on investment, ASGISA and JIPSA and explore enhanced cooperation in Africa, both trilateral cooperation and coordination of activities to promote conflict prevention and resolution and promote post-conflict reconstruction.
The BNC consists of three committees i.e. Political Affairs, Economic Affairs and Social Affairs chaired by the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry and National Treasury respectively.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and Deputy Prime Minister Olofsson are expected to include, among others:
• The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between both countries;
• Sweden’s support of AsgiSA and JIPSA;
• A review of developments in Africa including peacekeeping and conflict resolution; and
• A review of global developments including the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the comprehensive reform of the United Nations and climate change.
While in Sweden Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka is also expected to hold discussions with SAAB/Gripen International, the Swedish Ministers for Employment, Sven Otto Littorin, and Education and Science, Lars Leijonborg, concerning Asgisa and Jipsa, African Heads of Mission based in Sweden, Swedish captains of industry, open a South Africa – Sweden Investment Seminar, present a keynote address at the Swedish Institute for International Affairs
Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will also lay a wreath at the grave of Olof Palme and visit the Karolinska University Hospital.
Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka is expected to arrive in South Africa on Friday 5 October 2007.
Bilateral Economic Relations
| Year |
SA Exports to Sweden(R'000 000) |
SA Imports from Sweden(R'000 000) |
| 2000 |
1 046 906 000 |
2 902 935 000 |
| 2001 |
633 097 000 |
2 597 472 000 |
| 2002 |
751 069 000 |
3 337 698 000 |
| 2003 |
820 345 000 |
3 356 685 000 |
| 2004 |
1 200 414 000 |
4 113 526 000 |
| 2005 |
1 589 864 00 |
4 857 250 000 |
| 2006 |
2 968 624 000 |
5 876 103 000 |
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
30 September 2007
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