Minister Brown addresses media in Islamabad, Pakistan
The Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown met the Pakistan Minister of Defence Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, today as part of her working visit to strengthen to country relations and explore cooperation in areas of defence products and services. The meeting was held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The relations between South Africa and Pakistan remain cordial and date back more than six decades when Pakistan was a vocal opposition of apartheid and racial discrimination in our country.
The South African Government views the relations with Pakistan as of great significance and relevance in the current global dynamics. While the two-way trade between our countries is still relatively low it has experienced an upward trend since 2007, growing from R2.5 billion to R8 billion in 2016.
“However, while both our countries have continued to enjoy cordial bilateral and trade relations I believe that the defence sector remains one area in which our countries have more opportunities to explore cooperation. It is for this reason that we met today,” Minister Brown said.
After extensive deliberations the meeting saw existing opportunities in particular the defence products to enhance trade and investment between the two countries.
“We must be able to come up with a concrete plan on how best we can explore all possible areas of cooperation in the defence industry for the benefit of our countries. The partnerships will enable both countries to share experiences and transfer technology, as well as the know-how,” Minister Brown said.
These investment opportunities are within the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence and Industrial Cooperation that was signed by Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa‑Nqakula, South Africa’s Minister of Defence, earlier this year and it provides a good platform for increased cooperation.
Minister Brown is accompanied by Mr Zwelakhe Ntshepe, Group Chief Executive of Denel, senior departmental and Denel officials.
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