The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, will host the Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister K B Membe, and Minister of Agriculture, food security and cooperative, Prof Jumanne Maghembe who will undertake a Working Visit to South Africa scheduled to take place on Saturday, 13 August 2011.
The meeting follows a directive given by the Presidents of South Africa and Tanzania to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries to convene a Ministerial meeting with the purpose of signing outstanding Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)/Agreements which could not be signed during the recent State Visit by President Kikwete to South Africa.
The working visit takes place within the context of consolidating the African Agenda through enhancing and deepening the social, economic and political relations between the two countries.
Accordingly, it is expected that the MoU on Agriculture will be signed during this visit. The Ministers will also discuss issues of cooperation in the key bilateral priority areas such as cooperation in agriculture, transport, social development and custom administration.
South Africa and Tanzania share a strong economic cooperation and South Africa is the third largest exporter to Tanzania with a market share of 9.63 percent. Trade balance between the two countries shows South Africa’s exports, which were valued at R3.5 billion and R3.1 billion in 2009 and 2010 respectively. On the other hand, it shows imports from Tanzania that grew by almost 100 percent from R236 million in 2009 to R464 million in 2010.
South African exports to Tanzania consist predominantly of manufactured goods i.e. machinery, mechanical appliances, paper, rubber products, vehicles, iron and steel and services and technology. On the other hand, imports from Tanzania are mainly gold, coffee, cashew nuts, and cotton.
The two Ministers will use this visit to discuss the commissions of the recently signed Bi-National Commission. They are also expected to exchange views in respect of mutual cooperation at regional level, especially within SADC as well as discuss broad issues affecting the continent within the context of the African Union.
For further information please contact:
Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)
Cell: 082 884 5974
