Press Release
05 November 2013
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to Co-Chair the 3rd Session of the South Africa-Ghana Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will host her counterpart from the Republic of Ghana, Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, for the 3rd Session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) on 05 November 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa, ahead of the outgoing State Visit by H.E President Jacob Zuma to the Republic of Ghana, scheduled for 26-27 November 2013.
The 3rd Session of the PJCC will be preceded by the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) from 03-04 November 2013.
The Ministerial PJCC is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and further exploring cooperation in the field of mining, retail, insurance, transport, tourism, banking, telecommunication, construction, services, franchising, manufacturing, fishing, advertising, aviation and energy.The Ministers will also utilise the PJCC to discuss regional, continental and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
The 3rd Session of the PJCC will further afford the two Ministers an opportunity to endorse the Action Plans agreed upon by the officials from both countries on the implementation of the seven Agreements/Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) that were signed during the incoming State Visit by the late President of the Republic of Ghana in August 2011. Two more Agreements on Agriculture and Transport cooperation will be discussed in preparation for signature during the outgoing State Visit to Ghana on 26-27 November 2013.
Bilateral political relations between South Africa and Ghana, one of the most stable multi-party democracies in the West African region, are very good, with both countries maintaining residential Diplomatic Missions in each other’s capitals. On 11 May 2007, South Africa and Ghana launched the Inaugural Session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) in Pretoria. The Second Session of the PJCC was held on 11 March 2010 in Accra, Ghana.
Ghana represents a major export market for South African goods, although the total trade volumes are still relatively low in global terms. In 2012, South African exports to Ghana were estimated at R4, 456 billion and the imports from Ghana at R1, 9 billion. The bilateral trade between South Africa and Ghana has experienced an upward trend between 2008-2012, growing from R 3, 1 billion to R 6 billion respectively.
On average South Africa’s exports increased by 63, 2%, while the imports increased by a dramatic 1790% between 2011 and 2012. This is attributed to the increased amount of petroleum oil that South Africa imported from Ghana.
South African investors are active in the following sectors in Ghana: mining, retail, insurance, transport, tourism, banking, telecommunication, construction, services, franchising, manufacturing, fishing, advertising, aviation and energy. The 3rd Session of the PJCC will provide an opportunity for both sides to further explore mutual beneficial areas of cooperation.
For further information, please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
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