President Mbeki to pay working visit to Swaziland

Pretoria – South African President Thabo Mbeki will on Wednesday – Thursday 23 – 24 April 2008 pay a working visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland where he will hold bilateral political and economic discussions with His Majesty King Mswati III.

President Mbeki will in this regard be supported by Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Lindiwe Hendricks, and Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula; Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Adv Dirk du Toit, and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Ms Elizabeth Thabethe.

President Mbeki is undertaking this working visit within the context of South Africa’s commitment to strengthen bilateral political and economic relations with Swaziland and within the broader framework of advancing the consolidation of the African agenda.

In this regard, President Mbeki’s engagements will, among others, seek to:

• Strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Swaziland;
• Reaffirm the significance of good neighbourliness as a cornerstone for sustained regional economic development;
• Explore economic opportunities presented by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Tournament to be hosted by South Africa.  Swaziland is expected to benefit in an array of areas including tourism, hosting of soccer base camps for participating nations, and development of sports facilities, and
• Discuss the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative (SDI) which has been identified as vital for leveraging economic integration between the two countries.

While in Swaziland, President Mbeki will hold bilateral discussions with His Majesty King Mswati III and also pay a courtesy call on Her Majesty the Indlovukazi. 

President Mbeki is scheduled to depart Swaziland on Thursday 24 April 2008.

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

22 April 2008