Minister Dlamini Zuma arrives in Zimbabwe ahead of the scheduled SA – Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation Meeting, 16 March 2009. Victoria Falls - South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrived in Victoria Falls on Sunday ahead of the scheduled meeting of SA-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation (JPCC) which she will chair with the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister on Monday 16 March at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is leading a senior ministerial delegation comprising Ministers Mandisi Mpahlwa; Nosiviwe Mapisa – Nqakula, Lulu Xingwana and Barbara Hogan as well as senior government officials including Directors-General of foreign Affairs and Minerals and Energy Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba and Adv. Sandile Nogxina, respectively.
The JPCC Ministerial Session which is being preceded by a senior officials’ meeting from 14 to 15 March 2009 will focus, among others, on the following issues.
Review of existing bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries
Social and humanitarian matters which includes co-operation in the health field, public service administration; labour and arts and culture;
Migration matters;
Trade, finance and investment;
Energy and mining;
Environment and Tourism;
Agriculture;
Transport and communications;
Preparations for the forthcoming Confederations Cup and the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Identification of possible agreements and additional projects
South Africa's participation in the 3rd Session of the JPCC comes within the context of her commitment to consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Zimbabwe while assisting the people of Zimbabwe in their path towards national reconciliation, reconstruction and development as well as economic recovery.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe remain cordial and South Africa’s assistance to Zimbabwe is furthermore informed by its broader vision of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) economic integration programme. Zimbabwe remains a major trading partner with South Africa as illustrated by the trade statistics below.
South Africa – Zimbabwe trade statistics (all figures in ZAR billion)
EXPORTS
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
ANNUAL TOTAL
7,309,455
6,551,409
6,182,317
7,486,859
7,410,602
8,501,124
IMPORTS
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
ANNUAL TOTAL
2,159,775
2,656,012
2,795,783
3,131,518
4,633,368
6,036,490
TRADE BALANCE
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
ANNUAL TOTAL
5,149,681
3,895,396
3,386,534
4,355,341
2,777,234
2,464,634
SOUTH AFRICAN EXPORTS (Rand '000)
EXPORTS
2008
JAN
538,755
FEB
797,617
MAR
841,840
SOUTH AFRICAN IMPORTS (Rand'000)
IMPORTS
2008
JAN
599,310
FEB
433,479
MAR
573,595
SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE BALANCE (Rand'000)
TRADE BALANCE
2008
JAN
60,554
FEB
364,138
MAR
268,245
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs Private Bag X152 Pretoria, 0001
