The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim Ebrahim, and his Kazakhstan counterpart, Mr Kairat Sarybay, will co-chair the 3rd Round of Inter-Governmental Consultations scheduled to take place on 10 October 2013 in Pretoria.
South Africa and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992. A Protocol on Foreign Ministry Consultations was signed in July 1997. The objective of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) is for the two countries to regularly review the scope of their relations and identify new areas of cooperation. The First Session of the IDC was held in September 2010 in South Africa.
The second round of Inter-Governmental Consultations was held in May 2012 in Astana, Kazakhstan. During this meeting, the parties discussed in detail the question of multilateral cooperation in international organisations and held discussions on international issues of mutual interest and concern.
Prime on the agenda of the Consultations will be, among others, the review of progress made in respect of outstanding draft agreements to be signed during the planned State Visit by the President of Kazakhstan in December 2013.
Total trade between South Africa and the Kazakhstan has been fluctuating but remained in South Africa’s favour since 2009. It increased from R44 million in 2009 to R137 million in 2010; it dropped to R88 million in 2011 and increased to R90 million in 2012. Exports increased from R42 million in 2009 to R101 million in 2010 compared to imports of R2 million in 2009 and R36 million in 2010.
For further information please contact:
Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO
Cell: 082 884 5974
