to visit South Africa
8 July 2007
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo
D'Alema will pay an official visit to South Africa from Monday to Wednesday, 9
to 11 July 2007.
During his visit to South Africa Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema will
on Monday, 9 July, join Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka during the
South African-Italian Business forum scheduled for Sandton Convention Centre in
Johannesburg at 09h00.
The South Africa-Italian Business forum is expected to be attended by
business delegations from South Africa and Italy led by Business Unity South
Africa's Patrice Motsepe and Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, President of Italy's
Confindustria.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema will hold bilateral
political and economic discussions with his counterpart, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, at the Presidential Guesthouse in
Pretoria.
The discussions with both Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and
Minister Dlamini Zuma will take place within the context of South Africa's
priority to strengthening political, economic and trade relations with Italy
with a view to ensuring a faster and shared economic growth.
Bilateral discussions between Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema and
Minister Dlamini Zuma are expected to focus on:
* review the status of political, economic and trade relations between South
Africa and Italy
* peacemaking and conflict resolution in Africa with a focus on Somalia and
Western Sahara
* other matters of mutual concern with specific reference to the United Nations
Security Council issues.
Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema is expected to hold further bilateral
discussions with Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota, visit Constitutional Hill
for discussions with Justice Pius Langa, lay a wreath at the Italian Military
Cemetery in Zonderwater, Cullinan and hold further discussions with Dr Van Zyl
Slabbert, Allister Sparks, Mathatha Tsedu, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu and Barney
Mthombothi before visiting Soccer City for a meeting with Danny Jordaan, the
CEO of 2010 World Cup Organising Committee.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Trade
Earlier, this week speaking in Pretoria, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi
Mpahlwa said that "Our relations with Italy hold significant promise for the
growth of economic relations as well as co-operation in key sectors within the
context of South Africa's priority to strengthen and consolidate economic and
trade relations with key countries in Europe."
Italy is among South Africa's ten most important export markets partners.
South African exports to Italy are dominated by precious and non�ferrous
metals; basic iron and steel and ferro alloys, coal and quarried
stone/granite.
Some value added products are increasingly penetrating the Italian market,
including processed and preserved fish and fish products; manufacture of other
general purpose machinery; production; processing and preserving of meat and
meat products, preparation and spinning of textile fibres, fruit and vegetable
crops, market gardening; horticulture; tanning and dressing of leather; pulp;
paper and paperboards, basic chemicals etc.
South Africa exported to Italy goods to the value of R7 510 853,00/ R791
509,82 in 2005 and R9 379 751,00/ Euro 989 412,37 in 2006 and imported goods to
the value of R10 349 030,00/ R1 091 085,51 in 2005 and R9 268, 130,00/ R977
126,66.
South African figures exclude gold and certain minerals, thus indicating a
negative trade balance for South Africa. Whereas, Italian figures express total
trade indicating a balance in South Africa's favour.
Imported goods
South African imports from Italy consist mainly of machine tools, auto
vehicles and components, industrial machinery, jewellery and telecommunications
equipment.
Total trade between South and Africa and Italy
Total trade between South Africa and Italy amounted to about Euro 3,693
billion, with the positive trade surplus for South Africa, according to figures
supplied by ISTAT (Italian Central Institute of Statistics)
According to the latest statistics available, investments from Italy to
South Africa amounted to 38 million in 2005.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
8 July 2007
Source: SAPA
