Guinea-Bissau
18 October 2006
Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on
Thursday, 19 October 2006, host her counterpart from the Republic of
Guinea-Bissau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and
Community, Mr Antonio Isaac Monteiro for bilateral discussions at the
Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will host her counterpart within the context of South
Africa's foreign policy priority of consolidating the African development
agenda through, among others, the strengthening of bilateral relations with all
countries on the continent.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and
Antonio Monteiro are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both
countries including areas of further co-operation
* the implementation of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Project on
Agriculture and Livestock Development
* an assessment on the socio-political developments in West and Southern
Africa.
Minister Monteiro is expected to depart from South Africa on Friday, 20
October 2006.
Bilateral economic relations
South Africa holds vast expertise in the area of fish processing. South
African fishing companies can play a role in the development of the capacity of
Guinea-Bissau to generate more income from its fish stocks.
Another sector that can be explored in the area of investment is the natural
resources sector. Guinea-Bissau possesses some reserves of bauxite, phosphates
and petroleum that have not been explored. This would assist in diversifying
the economy away from the agricultural sector.
South African exports to Guinea-Bissau
Export values:
R1,3 million (2003)
R3 million (2004)
R3,2 million (2005)
South African imports from Guinea-Bissau
Import values:
R0,1 million (2003)
R0,3 million (2004)
R1 million (2005)
Trilateral co-operation
The South African government is involved in the development of the
agricultural and livestock sectors funded by the India-Brazil-South Africa
(IBSA)Funding Facility for Hunger and Poverty Alleviation. Identified in 2004,
this is a South-South cooperation project meant to assist in the upliftment of
Bissau-Guinean society. The project is administered by United Nations
Development programme. The purpose of the IBSA Fund is to implement duplicable,
phased projects in needy developing countries. In Guinea-Bissau, the project
aims to achieve the following results:
* reduction of the country's rice deficit
* improvement and diversification of horticulture
* improvement of short-cycle livestock production
* promotion and development of small and medium scale agro-industry.
The level of expertise that exists between the IBSA countries holds
exceptional value for developing countries. This fund is an attempt to share
this expertise on the part of the governments of the IBSA countries. This is
especially the case with the production of rice as the technology held by India
would help to make rice-producing countries self-sufficient in food
production.
Media programme for official visit to South Africa by Minister of Foreign
Affairs, International Co-operation and Community of the Republic of
Guinea-Bissau, Minister Antonio Isaac Monteiro
Thursday, 19 October 2006
11h30: Minister Dlamini Zuma to hold bilateral political and economic
discussions with Minister Monteiro
11h45: Arrival of media ahead of joint press conference by Ministers Dlamini
Zuma and Antonio Monteiro on conclusion of discussions.
Venue: Presidential Guesthouse, Bryntirion Estate, Church Street (Enter
through Gate 9) Pretoria
(Please present press cards)
12h30: Joint press conference
Enquiries:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
18 October 2006
