Minister Dlamini Zuma to Hold Discussions with Egyptian counterpart

Addis Ababa – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Sunday 3 February 2008 depart from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for Cairo Egypt where she is scheduled to hold discussions with her Egyptian counterpart Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul Gheit during the Ministerial segment of the Seventh Session of the Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC) between South Africa and Egypt on Monday 4 February 2008.

Minister Dlamini Zuma was in Addis Ababa as part of President Mbeki’s delegation to the African Union Summit which concluded its deliberations on Saturday 2 February 2008.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will participate in this Ministerial segment of the 7th JBC between the two countries within the context of South Africa’s commitment to consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Gheit are expected to include, among others:
· The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries including the implementation of the more than 30 existing agreements between South Africa and Egypt;
· The consolidation of the African agenda including outcomes of the recently concluded African Union Summit in Addis Ababa and the implementation of NEPAD;
· Peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Africa including the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia and Zimbabwe; and
· Other issues of mutual interest.

The South Africa – Egypt JBC consists of the following working groups:
·        Foreign Relations (Political Committee);
·        Trade & Investment;
·        Communication;
·        Health and Pharmaceuticals;
·        Agriculture;
·        Minerals & Energy (electricity);
·        Arts & Culture; and
·        Science & Technology.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is scheduled to return to South Africa on Tuesday 5 February 2008 ahead of the opening of Parliament and President Mbeki’s State of the Nation Address.

Bilateral Economic Relations
Potential areas of opportunity for South African companies in Egypt include the following sectors:
·        Processed Food
·        Automotive Components
·        Water equipment and Services
·        Structural Steel
·        Pharmaceutical industry
·        Capital equipment
·        Clothing and textiles
·        Ceramic industry
·        Furniture

South African companies doing business with Egypt include:
·        Sun International
·        PetroSA
·        Murray and Roberts (through a Dubai subsidiary)
·        Macsteel (marketing arrangement)
·        Karstens Farms (joint venture)
·        ExpandaDoor
·        SASOL (joint venture with Alexandria Wax making candles)
·        Graham Retief Farms in Paarl, supplies grapes to Al-Ahram Beverages
·        Aruba (potable cooling containers)
·        Vizier (grape technology)
·        Ceres fruit juices
·        Bokomo
·        South African Airways (code sharing agreement with Egypt Air)

Over the period 2006 to October 2007 South African exports to Egypt grew by 44% while imports declined by 64%. South Africa consequently enjoys a positive trade balance with the Republic of Egypt. South African Companies doing business with Egypt include Sun International, Petro SA, SASOL,Murray and Roberts, Macsteel and South African Airways.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

2 February 2008