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Minister Dlamini Zuma arrives in Vietnam ahead of State Visit
by President Mbeki Hanoi - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma today Tuesday 22 May 2007 arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam ahead of President Mbeki's
first State Visit to Vietnam scheduled from Thursday - Friday 24-25 May 2007.
President
Mbeki's visit comes within the context of South Africa's commitment to strengthening
political, economic and trade relations with Vietnam within the broad framework
of consolidating South-South relations. In Vietnam President Mbeki is expected
among others to hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart President Minh
Triet on Thursday 24 May 2007 during which issues on the agenda of discussions
are expected to include, among others: - The status of bilateral political
and economic relations between both countries;
- The support of Vietnam
for AsgiSA and JIPSA in terms of skills development and the sharing of best practice;
- A
briefing on developments in Africa with regard to post-conflict reconstruction
in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, Sudan, Darfur, Somalia and Cote
d' Ivoire
- Developments in the Middle East including the Iranian nuclear
conflict, Iraq and the Middle East Peace process;
- A briefing on developments
in Asia including Myanmar, East Timor and North Korea:
There exists
a large potential for economic relations especially for the private sector to
take up business opportunities in Vietnam. There are many long term and investment
opportunities for South African companies in Vietnam. In addition President
Mbeki and his delegation are expected to meet with the revered General Jiap; address
the South Africa-Vietnam Business Forum; address the Vietnamese Institute of International
Relations; visit the Temple of Literature and the Reunification Palace and War
Museum.
President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Saturday 26
May 2007. Bilateral Economic Relations Vietnam's exports to
South Africa are mainly footwear and vegetable products, mineral products, textiles
and textile products, machinery and mechanical appliances. South Africa's
exports to Vietnam include base metals and articles of base metals, wood and articles
of wood, machinery and mechanical appliances, prepared foodstuffs, products of
chemical and allied industries, live animals and animal products and wood pulp. There
are long-term trade and investment opportunities for South African companies in
Vietnam. Opportunities are mainly in the transport and mining sector, including
road and infrastructure projects. Good potential exists for increased South African
exports of mining equipment and mineral products, automotives, medical equipment
and products such as antiretroviral drugs, agricultural products including timber,
leather, wine, machinery and general trading commodities and services. South African
companies can also benefit from bidding on projects (and winning) such as building
construction, road construction, telecommunication, electricity, water management
and purification. South Africa has grown as a tourist destination and there
has been an increase of Vietnamese visitors to South Africa over the past few
years. In the long term, the increase of visitors could lead to the introduction
of direct flights between South Africa and Vietnam. TRADE STATISTICS
IN RAND VALUE | Trade
with Vietnam | | | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | SA
Exports | R 559,450,000 | R
512,405,000 | R 1,456,163,000 | R
314,646,000 | | SA Imports | R
225,569,000 | R 311,662,000 |
R 479,890,000 | R 638,021,000 | | Total
Trade | R 785,019,000 |
R 824,067,000 | R 1,936,053,000 | R
952,667,000 |
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department
of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 22 May
2007
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