visit
4 March 2007
Doha: South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad today Sunday, 4 March
2007, arrived in Doha, Qatar where he is scheduled to pay an official visit
scheduled from Sunday to Tuesday, 4-6 March 2007.
Deputy Minister Pahad will visit Qatar within the context of South Africa's
priority to consolidate relations with all countries of the Gulf.
Deputy Minister Pahad will hold discussions with his counterpart, Minister
of State for External Affairs Ahmed Abdullah al-Mahmoud on Monday, 5 March
2007.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy Minister Pahad and
Minister of State al-Mahmoud are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both
countries
* a briefing on the African developmental agenda including the consolidation of
institutions of the African Union and the implementation of the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
* conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa
* a briefing on developments in the Gulf region including Iran's nuclear
programme
* developments in the Middle East Peace Process.
Deputy Minister Pahad is scheduled to depart from Qatar on Tuesday, 6 March
2007 ahead of the 7th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim
Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) in Tehran, Iran.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Sasol and Qatar Petroleum entered into a US$900 million joint venture to
construct a gas-to-liquid facility at Ras Lafan. The plant was inaugurated on 6
June 2006 by Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica.
Qatar hosted the Asian Games in December 2006 and several South African
construction companies have benefited from infrastructure projects related to
the Games. Foremost among these is Murray & Roberts, which finished
construction of the multipurpose Khalifa Stadium in Doha in June 2005.
Genrec of South Africa was awarded a R200 million contract to supply all the
structural steel for this project. Future infrastructure and development
projects in Qatar over the next few years are likely to be substantial. These
include new oil and gas facilities, ports, an airport, several new roads,
hotels, museums and residential compounds, all offering opportunities for South
Africa.
In terms of trade relations, Qatar has traditionally enjoyed a healthy trade
surplus, due to its export of crude oil to South Africa. According to the
latest figures released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), South
African exports reached R134 940 126 for the year to the end of November 2006.
About half of South Africa's exports to Qatar consist of iron and steel
products. Imports from Qatar for the year to the end of November 2006 reached
R1 184 628 366, consisting almost exclusively of crude oil.
Year: 2002
SA Exports: R43 565 million
SA Imports: R429 545 million
Total Trade: R482 553 million
Year: 2003
SA Exports: R55 087 million
SA Imports: R344 187 million
Total Trade: R405 661 million
Year: 2004
SA Exports: R66 574 million
SA Imports: R684 211 million
Total Trade: R751 701 million
Year: 2005
SA Exports: R78 509 million
SA Imports: R991 948 million
Total Trade: R1 070 457 billion
Year: 2006 (Jan-Nov)
SA Exports: R134 940 126
SA Imports: R1 184 628 366
Total Trade: R 1 319 568 492
For further information, please contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
4 March 2007
