Media Release
28 September 2013
President Jacob Zuma to undertake a State Visit to Senegal
The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr Jacob Zuma, will undertake a State Visit to the Republic of Senegal on 01-02 October 2013.
President Zuma will meet with his Senegalese counterpart, President Macky Sall to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Senegal and exchange views on critical regional and global issues.
The visit will afford President Zuma and his delegation an opportunity to engage with the Senegalese Government on specific areas of interest between the two countries. These areas include security (defence capacity building), arts and culture, trade and economic development, energy, environment, mining and mineral beneficiation, agriculture, water purification and employment (job creation). South Africa and Senegal share the same view that trade proposals should be specific in order to inform business delegations and facilitate their business deals.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Senegal received a new impetus after the election of His Excellency Macky Sall as the President of Senegal in 2012. South Africa and Senegal have healthy economic relations and there is still room for a lot of improvement in trade relations. In 2012 South Africa exported a total of R830, 416,777.00 in goods to Senegal, whereas the Senegalese export totalled R12, 493,704.00 of good to South Africa.
South African exports mainly consist of vegetable products; mineral products; plastics and rubber; machinery and mechanical appliances; prepared foodstuff; beverages and footwear. ;. South African imports consist of fish (frozen and chilled); wood and articles of wood; textiles articles; cultural artefacts; jewellery; and works of art. South Africa is assisting Senegal in the field of electricity production through the involvement of Eskom Energie Manantali hydro-electric project which supplies power to Senegal Mali and Mauritania.
The President will be accompanied by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Paul Mashatile, Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister of Minister of Economic Development.
The Presidential delegation will also include South African business persons, who will attend the South Africa-Senegal Business Forum on the 3 October 2013 in Dakar, with a view to promote and expand trade and investment between South Africa and Senegal.
For further information, please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO on 082 884 5974.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ANDCOOPERATION
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