President Jacob Zuma to pay his first State Visit to Angola, 20-21 August 2009.

Pretoria – South African President Jacob Zuma and Mrs Zuma will, on Wednesday 19 August 2009, depart South Africa on his first State Visit to Angola scheduled for 20 – 21 August 2009.

President Jacob Zuma will be supported by International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Sport and Recreation, Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, Minister of Public Enterprises, Ms Barbara Hogan, Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, Minerals Minister, Susan Shabangu, Evaluation and Monitoring Minister in the Presidency, Mr Collins Chabane, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Transport, Mr Sbu Ndebele, Minister of Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale and senior officials from various government departments. A huge South African business delegation will also be travelling to Angola to join President Zuma. This will be the largest business delegation to take part in a state visit since 1994.

The visit by President Zuma to Angola, takes place within the context of efforts aimed at consolidating strategic bilateral and economic relations between the two countries. There is a growing sense that stronger relations will be mutually beneficial both at a political level as well as in the private sector. Angola has tremendous resources and there is a massive interest by the South African private sector to get involved in the Angolan reconstruction process, especially the southern part of Angola which was severely devastated by war, whilst Angola views South Africa’s human resources potential and its strong infrastructure as added benefits in the relationship.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane also visited Angola on 15 May 2009 as a Special Envoy of President Zuma to President Dos Santos.

While in Luanda, President Zuma will hold bilateral, political and economic discussions with his counterpart. On the regional front, the forthcoming SADC Summit in the DRC as well as the political situation in the region will be discussed as well as working for peace and stability in the continent.

1. On the Multilateral front: The two Presidents are likely to emphasise on strengthening partnership and coordination in dealing with the reform of multilateral institutions such as the Bretton Woods institutions, the United Nations Security Council, the AU Commission, G8 etc.

It is expected that the following Agreements aimed at strengthening existing diplomatic ties will be signed;

-     Agreement establishing Bi-National Commission
-     Agreement on Regular Diplomatic Consultations
A number of other important Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding are likely to be signed in various areas.

HIGHLIGHTS DURING THE STATE VISIT TO ANGOLA BY PRES. ZUMA

President Eduardo dos Santos will also host President Zuma and his delegation for a State dinner. A Business Conference will take place on the margins of the State visit; attended by both Angolan and South African companies. The two Presidents will also address the combined and business communities. A joint programme of action will be unveiled by the business sector to both Presidents, aimed at elevating economic diplomacy.

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE RELATIONS

Relations between the people of South Africa and Angola were cemented during the anti – colonial and anti – apartheid struggles, which saw South Africa and Angola’s liberation movements, the ANC and the MPLA forging an alliance leading to the independence of their respective countries. These relations were transformed into state – to – state relations following the dawn of peace, democracy and justice in South Africa in 1994. Many South Africans, regard Angola as their second home.

HISTORY OF THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

South Africa and Angola enjoy strategic political, economic and trade relations which find expression in the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) signed on the 20th of November 2000. Through the Joint Commission for Cooperation, the two countries have managed to further strengthen bilateral relations as evidenced by the signing of a number of bilateral agreements. In this regard, agreements have been signed in the fields of Agriculture, Health, Defence, Tourism, Promotion and Protection of Investments, Science and Technology, and Social Assistance and Reintegration.

In addition, in 2003 the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Angola entered into a co-operation agreement in the field of minerals and energy. In terms of this agreement a Working Group was established to focus on the following broad themes: electricity supply, electrification, nuclear, renewable energy, energy efficiency, specific electricity projects, downstream oil and gas, midstream oil and gas, upstream oil and gas, research and development, and other regional projects including conferences.

Trade Relations

Investment/ Business opportunities for SA companies

South Africa and Angola have established a relationship over the past years which also extended to the economic realm. There are many South African businesses that have recognised that Angola is an important regional player and provides good opportunities for investment and trade in a wide range of sectors. An agreement on “reciprocal promotion and protection of investments” between the two countries was also signed on 17 February 2005.

In 2006 SA exports to Angola amounted to R5 billion whilst Angolan exports to SA amounted to R3 billion. SA exports to Angola are always a mixed bag of products whilst Angolan exports are predominantly petroleum related products. In 2007 SA exports amounted to R6 billion whilst Angolan exports amounted to R12 billion. It is for the first time that Angola has enjoyed a positive trade balance with South Africa. Almost 90% of Angolan exports to SA in 2007 were petroleum related products

*Statistics on Trade Relations between South Africa and Angola

For more information contact Nomfanelo Kota on 082 459 3787.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001
17 August 2009