Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe to hold Discussions with Croatian Counterpart

Pretoria – South African Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe will today Saturday 24 May 2008 depart for Zagreb, Croatia where she will hold bilateral political, economic and trade discussions with her Croatian counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Hidajet Biscevic on Monday 26 May 2008.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe and Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies will visit Croatia to, among others, commemorate South Africa week, with a view to strengthening and consolidating bilateral political, economic and trade relations with the country.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy Ministers Sue van der Merwe and Biscevic are expected to include, among others:

• The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries;
• Developments in Africa in general and SADC in particular including the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sudan and Darfur as well as Kenya;
• Developments within the European Union; and
• Other issues of mutual interest including the comprehensive reform of the United Nations.

While in Croatia Deputy Minister van der Merwe is also scheduled to visit the Rijeka Port Authority and Brijuni Island.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday 28 May 2008

Bilateral Economic Relations

Croatia and South Africa signed a Bilateral Trade Agreement in August 2004 in Pretoria.

Trade between the two countries has grown significantly over the past years. According to the Departments of Trade and Industry, total South African–Croatian bilateral trade in 2007 amounted to about R844,190 million. South African exports to Croatia amounted to about R534,167 million and imports from Croatia totals about R310, 023 million, consisting mainly of mineral products including coal, iron ore, fruits and granite.  

In 2005, total South African/Croatian bilateral trade increased to US$ 56,8 million.  South African exports amounted to US$ 44,2 million and imports to US$ 12,6 million. Products exported in 2005: Pit Coal, coal Briquette and other solid fuels (US$26,1 million), fresh or dried citrus fruits (US$ 4,1 million), petroleum coke and bitumen (US$ 3,5 million), crude cast iron and mirror iron (US$ 3.1million) and granite, basalt and sandstone (US$ 2,3 Million). Products imported: electrical transformers (US$ 9, 9 million). 

Investments

South African companies are involved in Croatia in demining and special equipment production operations on a commercial basis. A positive development is the growing use of the Croatian port of Rijeka by South African companies as a gateway to neighbouring Central European countries. 
The office of the Mayor of Cape Town is looking at port opportunities for closer project co-operation between the city of Cape Town and the City of Rijeka.

Business opportunities exist in the fields of wires and cable production, shipbuilding, gas turbine production, energy, industry and vehicles, food and associated products, agriculture, military equipment, civil engineering and tourism.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

24 May 2008