Deputy Minister Pahad to Inaugurate South Africa – Malawi Joint Commission for Co-Operation

Pretoria – South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will on Monday 9 June 2008 depart for Lilongwe, Malawi where he will, together with his Malawian counterpart Deputy Minister Henri Mumba, co-chair the inaugural session of the South Africa – Malawi Joint Commission for Co-operation (JCC) scheduled for Tuesday – Wednesday 10-11 June 2008.

Deputy Minister Pahad will co-chair this first session of the South Africa – Malawi JCC within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Malawi with a view to consolidating the SADC developmental agenda. 

South Africa’s “Global Economic Strategy” places great importance on South Africa’s engagement with countries in Africa and SADC in particular, as it is believed that South Africa’s economy is inextricably linked with those of other SADC members.

In this regard, both countries regard the establishment of this JCC vital to strengthen relations and to create an environment for a more focused and well coordinated engagement in the areas of trade, tourism, mining, sports, culture, technology health agriculture, etc.  In this way, bilateral relations will move to a higher footing and is expected to yield greater benefits for both countries.

Accordingly the JCC will plan and implement bilateral programmes of co-operation while undertaking studies and surveys in the fields of common interest, including:

• agriculture and livestock;
• trade, industry, mining and tourism;
• monetary and financial arrangements;
• development of transportation and communication facilities, roads and other infrastructure of the two countries;
• joint development and utilisation of natural and energy resources;
• health, education and development and utilisation of human resources;
• institutional development; and
• nature conservation and other environmental matters of common concern.

The following South African Government Departments will be participating in the Joint Commission for Co-operation:  Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Home Affairs, Science and Technology, Transport, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Trade and Industry, Minerals and Energy, Defence, Social Development and Health

Deputy Minister Pahad is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday 11 June 2008.

Bilateral Economic Relations

 Year               South African Exports (R ‘000)      South African Imports (R ‘000)
 1999               1,452                                                   0,467
 2000               1,669                                                   0,205
 2001               1,902                                                   0,920
 2002               2,219                                                   0,427
 2003               1,575                                                   0,359
 2004               1,566                                                   0,435
 2005               1,637                                                    0,455
 2006               1,689                                                   0,531
 2007               1,978                                                   0,604 

In 2007, Malawi was South Africa’s 10th largest export destination in Africa (7th in the SADC region) and ranked 8th with regard to imports from Africa (7th in the SADC region).

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

8 June 2008