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Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van Der Merwe to Host Greek Counterpart
Pretoria – South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe will on Monday 21 January 2007 host Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Theodoros Kassimis for bilateral political and economic discussions at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Deputy Minister Kassimis will pay a visit to South Africa scheduled from Sunday – Sunday 20-27 January 2007.
Deputy Minister Van der Merwe will meet Deputy Minister Kassimis within the context of strengthening relations with the European Union with a view to consolidating the African agenda.
South Africa has maintained strong people-to-people ties with the Hellenic Republic, mainly due to the large Hellenic community in South Africa. The Hellenic community in South Africa is estimated at 60 000.
Good relations between South Africa and Greece have also been helped by the fact that the Greek Government is committed to the Hellenic community in South Africa.
Engagements between Deputy Ministers Van der Merwe and Kassimis are likely to include:
- The strengthening of bilateral political, trade and economic relations between South Africa and Greece;
- The commemoration of the centennial of the Greek community in Pretoria;
- Greece’s contribution to education and health programmes in South Africa;
- Outcomes of the European Union – Africa Summit recently held in Lisbon;
- African peace and security issues; and
- Other issues of mutual interest.
Economic bilateral relations
Greece is the oldest and the largest market for South Africa in the Balkan region and the two countries’ relations are good with increasing emphasis being placed on bilateral trade.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has been evolving with a steady development in both value and volumes.
Main exports to Greece include: dump trucks, fresh fruit, frozen fish, PET (polyethelene terephthalate), steel coils, chromium trioxide, hides and skins, and digital decoders. Main imports from Greece are: electronic circuit boards, extruding machines, aluminium ores and concentrates, ethyl alcohol, ammunition, pressure reducing valves, sanitary ware and beech wood.
| Year |
Import from Greece |
Exports to Greece |
Total Balance |
Total Trade |
Annual Growth |
| 2001 |
88 477 |
499 450 |
+389% |
521 927 - |
- |
| 2002 |
105 427 |
443 032 |
+320% |
548459 |
+5% |
| 2003 |
106 930 |
435 811 |
+307% |
542 741 |
-1% |
| 2004 |
125 591 |
273 109 |
117% |
398 700 |
-27% |
| 2005 |
136 774 |
288621 |
111% |
425 395 |
+7% |
| 2006 |
218 450 |
738 206 |
+237% |
956 656 |
+125% |
While Greece is not a major donor country, Greece has contributed to programmes in education and health in South Africa. These include a $200 000 donation to a health clinic in Sebokeng and a $40 000 donation to sports facilities in Soweto and Alexandra.
While in South Africa Deputy Minister Kassimis will on Monday 21 January open the offices of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) in Pretoria. The Deputy Minister will on Tuesday 22 January visit the Greek Diaspora Archives and the Hellenic Community Hall of Germiston and Districts.
Media Programme for Incoming Visit by Deputy Minister Kassimis Monday 21 January 2008
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
20 January 2008
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