Africa and Mali joint commission of co-operation
7 December 2006
South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on conclusion
of bilateral discussions between Presidents Mbeki and Bush in Washington
proceed to Mali where she will, together with her Malian counterpart, Foreign
Minister Moctar Ouane, co-chair the second session of the South AfricaâMali
Joint Commission for Co-operation (SA-Mali JCC) from Sunday to Monday 10 to 11
December 2006.
The session of JCC will take place within the context of South Africa's
priority to strengthen bilateral political, economic and trade relations with
Mali.
Issues on the agenda for discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and
Ouane are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between South
Africa and Mali.
* progress in co-operation projects in the fields of Agriculture, Arts and
Culture, Defence, Education, Health, Minerals and Energy, Science and
Technology, Trade and Industry and Transport.
* other issues of multilateral importance including the comprehensive reform of
the United Nations and South Africa's accession to the Non-Permanent Seat on
the Security Council 2007 to 2008.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Mali are good, based mainly on
the Malian government's strong support for the African Renaissance initiative
and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) as well as its strong
commitment to the promotion of democracy and good governance.
Since the establishment of the Joint Commission in 2000, South Africa has
been involved in several assistance projects in Mali. These projects included
the funding of the Cuban Medical Brigade deployed in the rural areas of Mali,
assistance to the country for its hosting of the 2002 African Cup of Nations
Tournament and its fight against the locust invasion in 2004.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday, 12
December 2006.
Economic bilateral relations
Two major South African gold mining companies, Anglogold and Randgold, are
present in Mali. Anglogold operates three gold mining operations: Yatela (in
the southwest of Mali), Sadiola (near the town of Kayes in the extreme west of
Mali) and Morila (200 kilometres south of Bamako) which it operates jointly
with Randgold. The Malian government holds shares of 20% in Yatela and Morila
and 18% in Sadiola.
While the trade figures between South Africa and Mali to a large extent
reflect the activities of these two mining companies (i.e. the exports of
machinery and base metals to Mali), South Africa's main import products from
Mali are textiles and textile articles.
Eskom Enterprises was successful in winning the international bid in July
2001 for the hydro-electrical generation project in Manantali, a joint
initiative between the governments of Mali (who will receive 51% of the
output), Senegal (34%) and Mauritania (15%).
On a multilateral economic level, co-operation between South Africa and Mali
in the gold mining industry and particularly with regard to the stabilisation
of the international gold price is being pursued, inter alia within the context
of initiatives such as the African Mining Partnership (AMP).
South African exports to Mali
Export values:
* R445,8 million (2005)
* R371,0 million (2004)
* R177,6 million (2003)
South African imports from Mali
Import values:
* R5,8 million (2005)
* R8,1 million (2004)
* R6,8 million (2003)
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Manusha Pillai
Tel: (012) 351 0269
Cell: 082 389 3587
E-mail: pillaim@foreign.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
8 December 2006
