meeting in Ussia
19 July 2007
The South Africa-Russia Inter-governmental Trade and Economic Committee
(Itec) on Thursday, 19 July, began its proceedings in Sochi, a region of the
Russian Federation under the leadership of South African Foreign Minister Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Russian Minister of Natural Resources Yuri
Trutnev.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is leading a senior South African officials delegation
to the Russian Federation, including Foreign Affairs and Minerals and Energy
Directors-General Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba and Advocate Sandile Nogxina respectively,
within the context of consolidating bilateral political, economic and trade
relations between South Africa and the Russian Federation.
Both Minister Dlamini Zuma and Minister Trutnev had expressed satisfaction
at progress being made following the tabling of reports from sub-committees of
Itec on water affairs and forestry, minerals and energy, trade and industry,
agriculture, transport and education.
In this regard, the two ministers agreed to finalise preparations for the
signing of four agreements between South Africa and Russia, namely agriculture,
education, energy and transport by the next Itec meeting scheduled for Moscow
in 2008.
The proposed agriculture agreement will enhance the expansion of export of
South African agricultural products to the Russian Federation, while the
proposed education agreement will deal with the mutual recognition of
qualifications. the proposed energy agreement will on the other hand facilitate
closer co-operation in the fields of energy and power generation.
The two ministers whilst noting the extend of bilateral economic
co-operation between the two countries, emphasised the need to intensify the
involvement of the private sector as driving force behind enhanced economic
co-operation between Russia and South Africa.
The Russian delegation to Itec called for support of the South African
government in arranging an exhibition of Russian goods and services in South
Africa during November 2007.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Saturday, 21
July 2007.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
19 July 2007
