Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim to participate in the Gulf-Africa Investment Forum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim and delegation have arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the Gulf-Africa Investment Forum, and to participate in a bilateral discussion with the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Deputy Minister Ebrahim’s official visit to the KSA occurs within the parameters of the Republic’s national and foreign policy objectives – particularly to ensure the encouragement of mutually beneficial political and economic relations, through fostering both bilateral and multilateral relationships.

Since 1994, the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have maintained an established formal diplomatic relationship, which includes the identification and development of mutually beneficial political and economic relations. Furthermore, the RSA and the KSA continues to pursue joint cooperation in diverse fields; most notably, in the fields of higher education, economics, trade and investment, technical cooperation, defence, and science and technology.

The 2010 Gulf-Africa Investment Forum convenes under the theme: Fostering Economic Relations, and is being hosted by the Gulf Research Centre and the Council of Saudi Chambers. The 2010 Forum is scheduled to focus exclusively on the economic relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Sub-Saharan Africa and will seek to address issues pertaining to investment environment; bilateral trade and trade financing; agriculture; minerals and natural resources; telecommunication; and infrastructure. Deputy Minister Ebrahim’s scheduled address to the Gulf-Africa Investment Forum is entitled: “The Gulf and Africa - The Role of Regional Organisations”.

Minister of Economic Development, His Excellency, Mr Ebrahim Patel, is also scheduled to participate in the Gulf-Africa Investment Forum and will address the delegates on the Republic of South Africa’s vies on Gulf-Africa relations.

Deputy Minister Ebrahim will be supported by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s Deputy Director-General: Branch Asia and Middle East; Ambassador S. Ngombane, the South African Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Ambassador J Davies, the Director: Gulf States; Ambassador M Slabber and senior government officials.

Deputy Minister Ebrahim and his delegation are expected to return to the Republic of South Africa on Wednesday, 08 December 2010.

For further information please contact the DDG: Public Diplomacy, Mr Clayson Monyela via e-mail monyelatc@dirco.gov.za or on + 27 82 806 7405.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

OR Tambo Building
Private Bag X152
PRETORIA, RSA
0001

04 December 2010