South African President Jacob Zuma and Mrs Zuma will, on Wednesday 19 August 2009, depart South Africa on his first state visit to Angola scheduled for 20 to 21 August 2009.
President Jacob Zuma will be supported by International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Sport and Recreation, Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, Minister of Public Enterprises, Ms Barbara Hogan, Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, Minerals Minister, Susan Shabangu, Evaluation and Monitoring Minister in the Presidency, Mr Collins Chabane, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Transport, Mr Sbu Ndebele, Minister of Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale and senior officials from various government departments. A huge South African business delegation will also be travelling to Angola to join President Zuma. This will be the largest business delegation to take part in a state visit since 1994.
The visit by President Zuma to Angola, takes place within the context of efforts aimed at consolidating strategic bilateral and economic relations between the two countries. There is a growing sense that stronger relations will be mutually beneficial both at a political level as well as in the private sector. Angola has tremendous resources and there is a massive interest by the South African private sector to get involved in the Angolan reconstruction process, especially the southern part of Angola which was severely devastated by war, whilst Angola views South Africa’s human resources potential and its strong infrastructure as added benefits in the relationship.
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane also visited Angola on 15 May 2009 as a Special Envoy of President Zuma to President Dos Santos.
While in Luanda, President Zuma will hold bilateral, political and economic discussions with his counterpart. On the regional front, the forthcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the political situation in the region will be discussed as well as working for peace and stability in the continent.
On the multilateral front: The two Presidents are likely to emphasise on strengthening partnership and coordination in dealing with the reform of multilateral institutions such as the Bretton Woods institutions, the United Nations Security Council, the African Union (AU) Commission, G8 etc.
It is expected that the following agreements aimed at strengthening existing diplomatic ties will be signed:
* Agreement establishing bi-national commission
* Agreement on regular diplomatic consultations
A number of other important agreements and Memorandum of Understanding are likely to be signed in various areas.
Highlights during the state visit to Angola by president Zuma
President Eduardo dos Santos will also host President Zuma and his delegation for a state dinner. A business conference will take place on the margins of the state visit; attended by both Angolan and South African companies. The two Presidents will also address the combined and business communities. A joint programme of action will be unveiled by the business sector to both Presidents, aimed at elevating economic diplomacy.
People to people relations
Relations between the people of South Africa and Angola were cemented during the anti–colonial and anti–apartheid struggles, which saw South Africa and Angola’s liberation movements, the African Nation Congress (ANC) and the Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) forging an alliance leading to the independence of their respective countries. These relations were transformed into state to state relations following the dawn of peace, democracy and justice in South Africa in 1994. Many South Africans, regard Angola as their second home.
History of the diplomatic relations
South Africa and Angola enjoy strategic political, economic and trade relations which find expression in the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) signed on 20th of November 2000. Through the Joint Commission for Cooperation, the two countries have managed to further strengthen bilateral relations as evidenced by the signing of a number of bilateral agreements. In this regard, agreements have been signed in the fields of agriculture, health, defence, tourism, promotion and protection of investments, science and technology, and social assistance and reintegration.
In addition, in 2003 the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Angola entered into a cooperation agreement in the field of minerals and energy. In terms of this agreement a working group was established to focus on the following broad themes: electricity supply, electrification, nuclear, renewable energy, energy efficiency, specific electricity projects, downstream oil and gas, midstream oil and gas, upstream oil and gas, research and development and other regional projects including conferences.
Trade relations
Investment/business opportunities for South African companies
South Africa and Angola have established a relationship over the past years which also extended to the economic realm. There are many South African businesses that have recognised that Angola is an important regional player and provides good opportunities for investment and trade in a wide range of sectors. An agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments between the two countries was also signed on 17 February 2005.
In 2006 South Africa exports to Angola amounted to R5 billion whilst Angolan exports to South Africa amounted to R3 billion. South Africa exports to Angola are always a mixed bag of products whilst Angolan exports are predominantly petroleum related products. In 2007 South African exports amounted to R6 billion whilst Angolan exports amounted to R12 billion. It is for the first time that Angola has enjoyed a positive trade balance with South Africa. Almost 90 percent of Angolan exports to South Africa in 2007 were petroleum related products.
Statistics on trade relations between South Africa and Angola:
South Africa, exports:
1994: 315,257
1995: 423,763
1996: 1,002,170
1997: 879,668
1998: 1,096,634
1999: 1,280,000
South Africa, imports:
1994: 16,928
1995: 3,794
1996: 261,722
1997: 210,017
1998: 327
1999: 196,779
Trade balance:
1994: 298,330
1995: 419,969
1996: 740,447
1997: 669,651
1998: 1,087,307
1999: 1,083,220
South Africa, exports:
1999: 1,280,000
2000: 1,375,926
2001: 2,621,496
2002: 3,430,398
2003: 3,393,776
2004: 3,116,467
South Africa, imports:
1999:196,779
2000:67,891
2001:12,469
2002: 128,539
2003:28,802
2004: 1,684,284
Trade balance:
1999: 1,083,220
2000: 1,308,035
2001: 2,609,027
2002: 3,301,859
2003: 3,364,973
2004: 1,432,183
South Africa exports:
2004: 3,116,467
2005: 3,535,751
2006: 4,739,163
2007: 5,501,653
2008: 1,424.861
2009: N/A
South Africa, imports:
2004: 1,684,284
2005: 1,891,093
2006: 2,486,137
2007: 11,584,443
2008: 1,684,284
2009: N/A
Trade balance:
2004: 1,432,183
2005: 1,644,658
2006: 2,253,027
2007: -6,082,790
2008: -3.731.971
2009: N/A
For more information contact:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
17 August 2009
