Africa
30 May 2007
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will on Thursday, 31 May 2007, arrive in
South Africa where he is expected to pay an official visit from 31 May to 1
June 2007 to hold discussion with President Thabo Mbeki at the Union Buildings,
in Pretoria. This will be Prime Minister Blair's last visit before stepping
down as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
The visit is significant since it takes place on the eve of the Group of
Eight (G8) Summit scheduled for Germany to which President Mbeki has been
invited as part of the African group. In addition it is anticipated that Prime
Minister Blair will deliver a major policy speech focusing on Africa.
Prime Minister Blair has consistently emphasised the importance of Africa's
development by designating the year 2005 as the 'Year of Africa.' As a
consequence, Africa's development was the primary item on the agenda of the G8
Summit held in Gleneagles and many of the recommendations of the Commission for
Africa were taken up at the Gleneagles summit building on the G8 Africa Action
Plan launched at Kananaskis in Canada in 2002.
Much of this was incorporated into an agreed, detailed set of commitments by
the G8 to address the areas of poverty, covering aspects such as peace and
security, good governance, human development and growth.
The British Government views South Africa as a major strategic partner in
Africa and South Africa expects that this relationship will be consolidated by
Prime Minister Blair's successor. Accordingly Prime Minister Blair's visit will
afford us an opportunity to review our bilateral political, economic and trade
relations and how they can be deepened.
Bilateral economic relations
The bilateral trade relations between the two countries have shown an upward
trend over the years. It reached 27,8 billion pounds sterling in 2004. In
addition, there is a healthy flow of investment in both directions. The United
Kingdom (UK) remains the largest foreign investor in South Africa and over 200
South African companies have established a presence in the UK.
The top five export commodities from the United Kingdom to South Africa are:
non-metallic minerals, office machines, road vehicles, telecommunications and
sound recording and reproducing apparatus as well as medicinal and
pharmaceutical products.
South Africa's top five export commodities to the United Kingdom are:
non-metallic minerals, coal, coke and briquettes, road vehicles, vegetables and
fruit and non-ferrous metals.
The South Africa/United Kingdom small business partnership programme was
launched in 2000. This programme aims to develop business partnerships between
the UK and South African companies owned and managed by previously
disadvantaged groups. Funds from British Trade International and the European
Union (EU) are supporting the programme. Over 50% of total South African
exports to the United Kingdom are either precious metals or "unclassified
goods." With about 12 billion pounds worth of investment in South Africa,
Britain holds the greatest amount of total foreign investment stock in South
Africa. British companies employ more than 40% of all those employed by foreign
firms. Nine of the top twenty foreign companies in South Africa are
British.
South African exports to the United Kingdom (Zar'000)
2006: 31,717,873
2005: 32,377,308
2004: 27,869,388
2003: 24,170,332
2002: 27,568,126
The UK is South Africa's third largest export market with an annual growth
of 16% from 2004 to 2005.
South African imports from the United Kingdom (Zar'000)
2006: 23,099,217
2005: 20,129,842
2004: 21,125,373
2003: 22,596,969
2002: 25,117,075
Tourism
South Africa is regarded as a destination of choice by British tourists. The
United Kingdom is, after Africa, by far our most significant source of
tourists, a position it has not relinquished for the past 15 years.
According to South African Tourism, the number of tourists from the United
Kingdom, from January to October 2002, amounted to 338 853. In 2004, a total of
456 368 British tourists visited South Africa and the latest statistics
indicate that the figure for 2006 increased to almost 500 000.
Media programme for official visit to South Africa by British Prime Minister
Tony Blair
Thursday, 31 May to Friday, 1 June 2007
Friday, 1 June 2007
09h00: Arrival of media ahead of official welcoming ceremony in honour of
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Venue: Amphitheatre Union Buildings, Pretoria
Media to arrive through Government Avenue and should present press cards)
10h00: Arrival of Prime Minister Blair to be received by President Thabo
Mbeki
Media in attendance
Bilateral discussions between President Thabo Mbeki and Prime Minister
Blair
10h30: Arrival of media ahead of joint press conference by President Thabo
Mbeki and Prime Minister Blair
Venue: Union Buildings, Pretoria
11h30: Joint press conference
12h00: Media arrive for photo opportunity and toast remarks during Official
Luncheon hosted by President Thabo Mbeki in honour of Prime Minister
Blair
Venue: Presidential Guesthouse, Bryntirion Estate, Church Street
12h40: Official luncheon hosted by President Thabo Mbeki in honour of Prime
Minister Blair
Media in attendance for photo opportunity and toast remarks
Kindly indicate which event you will be covering and please produce press
cards.
For more information about the programme contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Ntabiseng Rantau
Cell: 082 570 5503
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
30 May 2007
