by President Mbeki
22 May 2007
Hanoi: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today
Tuesday, 22 May 2007, arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam ahead of President Mbeki's
first State Visit to Vietnam scheduled from Thursday, 24 May 2007 to Friday, 25
May 2007.
President Mbeki's visit comes within the context of South Africa's
commitment to strengthening political, economic and trade relations with
Vietnam within the broad framework of consolidating South-South relations.
In Vietnam President Mbeki is expected among others to hold bilateral
discussions with his counterpart President Minh Triet on Thursday, 24 May 2007,
during which issues on the agenda of discussions are expected to include, among
others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both
countries
* the support of Vietnam for Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South
Africa (AsgiSA) and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) in
terms of skills development and the sharing of best practice
* a briefing on developments in Africa with regard to post-conflict
reconstruction in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, Sudan, Darfur,
Somalia and Cote d'Ivoire
* developments in the Middle East including the Iranian nuclear conflict, Iraq
and the Middle East Peace process
* a briefing on developments in Asia including Myanmar, East Timor and North
Korea.
There exists a large potential for economic relations especially for the
private sector to take up business opportunities in Vietnam. There are many
long term and investment opportunities for South African companies in
Vietnam.
In addition President Mbeki and his delegation are expected to meet with the
revered General Jiap; address the South Africa-Vietnam Business Forum; address
the Vietnamese Institute of International Relations; visit the Temple of
Literature and the Reunification Palace and War Museum.
President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Saturday, 26 May
2007.
Bilateral economic relations
Vietnam's exports to South Africa are mainly footwear and vegetable
products, mineral products, textiles and textile products, machinery and
mechanical appliances. South Africa's exports to Vietnam include base metals
and articles of base metals, wood and articles of wood, machinery and
mechanical appliances, prepared foodstuffs, products of chemical and allied
industries, live animals and animal products and wood pulp.
There are long-term trade and investment opportunities for South African
companies in Vietnam. Opportunities are mainly in the transport and mining
sector, including road and infrastructure projects. Good potential exists for
increased South African exports of mining equipment and mineral products,
automotives, medical equipment and products such as antiretroviral drugs,
agricultural products including timber, leather, wine, machinery and general
trading commodities and services. South African companies can also benefit from
bidding on projects (and winning) such as building construction, road
construction, telecommunication, electricity, water management and
purification.
South Africa has grown as a tourist destination and there has been an
increase of Vietnamese visitors to South Africa over the past few years. In the
long term, the increase of visitors could lead to the introduction of direct
flights between South Africa and Vietnam.
Trade statistics in rand value
Trade with Vietnam
2003:
SA Exports: R 559,450,000
SA Imports: R 225,569,000
Total Trade: R 785,019,000
2004
SA Exports: R512,405,000
SA Imports: R 311,662,000
Total Trade: R 824,067,000
2005
SA Exports: R 1,456,163,000
SA Imports R 479,890,000
Total Trade: R 1,936,053,000
2006
SA Exports: 314,646,000
SA Imports: R 638,021,000
Total Trade: R 952,667,000
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
22 May 2007
Source: SAPA
