Deputy Minister Pahad to Co-Chair Chile-South Africa Joint Consultative Mechanism

Pretoria - South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will on Wednesday 30 July 2008 depart for Santiago, Chile where he is scheduled to co-chair, together with Under-Secretary Alberto van Klaveren, the 3rd Joint Consultative Mechanism between Chile and South Africa on Thursday 31 July 2008.

Deputy Minister Pahad will co-chair the Joint Consultative Mechanism within the context of South Africa’s efforts to strengthen bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Chile with a view to strengthening South-South co-operation.

This 3rd session of the Joint Consultative Mechanism seeks to add stature and profile to South Africa’s relationship with Chile while expanding the good bilateral relations which already exist in a number of fields.

In this regard discussions between Deputy Minister Pahad and Under Secretary Van Klaveren will, among others, seek to:

• Evaluate bilateral political, economic and trade relations in a variety of areas and to provide impetus for their expansion in order to mirror the sound political relations which already exist;
• Consolidate the political like-mindedness and goodwill existing between South Africa and Chile in both bilateral and multilateral contexts;
• Appraise the Chilean leadership on the development of the African Union and its institutions including NEPAD with a view to increasing awareness of and support for the African Agenda;
• Exchange views on prospects for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round; and
• Discuss developments pertaining to other current world issues.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Two-way trade amounts to approximately US$ 150 million per annum. 

South African companies regularly participate in large international trade shows in Chile, such as EXPOMIN and EXPONORD (mining); FIDAE (aviation); and EXPONAVAL (naval). On a smaller scale, trade shows specializing in such industries as tourism, wine-making, food production, transport, and forestry are also attended by South African companies.

South African investments in Chile (or investments which have a South African component) are estimated by the Chile-South African Chamber of Commerce to be between US$ 6–8 billion, in mining; leisure and entertainment; aquaculture, food production; and the wine industry. 

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

29 July 2008