Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka to pay an Official Visit to the Netherlands

Pretoria – South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe, will today Monday 7 April 2008  depart for the Netherlands where she will hold bilateral political, economic and trade discussions with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende on Tuesday 8 April 2008.  Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka’s working visit is scheduled for Tuesday – Wednesday 8 – 9 April 2008.

Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka’s visit to the Netherlands comes within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen bilateral political, economic and trade relations with the Netherlands with a view to consolidating North-South relations.

South Africa and the Netherlands enjoy excellent political relations characterised by regular high level dialogue, diverse bilateral co-operation projects and growing bilateral trade.  In addition to sharing a history, common language and cultural heritage, the two countries also share a wide diplomatic agenda.  The Netherlands played an important role in the liberation of South Africa and continues to play an important role in supporting transformation in post-apartheid South Africa. 

In this regard, the meeting between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and Prime Minister Balkenende on Tuesday 8 April 2008 will seek to:

• review bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries
• assess support for human and technical resource development, in particular ASGISA/JIPSA;
• Promote trade and investment between the two countries, and
• Acknowledge the contribution of the Netherlands to trilateral cooperation in support of Security Sector Reform in the Great Lakes Region.

While in the Netherlands, the Deputy President will, among others, interact with a group of Senior Parliamentarians from the health and economic sector.

Bilateral Economic Relations

South Africa and the Netherlands have a long history of economic co-operation which has received new impetus with the democratic processes and the opening of markets in South Africa since 1994.  Today, the Netherlands is the fifth largest destination of South African exports and ranks as the fifth largest foreign investor in South Africa.  South Africa is the main trading partner of the Netherlands in Africa.

South African exports were mainly minerals, metals and agricultural products, while imports from the Netherlands included chemicals, pharmaceutical and agricultural products.

FDI figures of Netherlands investment into South Africa

2006: EUR 794m (rise EUR53m compared to 2005)
2005: EUR741m

FDI figures of South African investment into the Netherlands

2006: EUR34m (decline EUR6m compared to 2005)
2005: EUR40m

 South Africa - Netherlands Bilateral Trade Figures:

Source: DTI

Tourist numbers from the Netherlands have grown steadily in the past year. From January to December 2006, 124,689 tourists visited South Africa compared to 116,244 the previous year, an increase of 7.3%. The Netherlands is thus a major supplier of tourist from Europe to South Africa.

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
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7 April 2008