3 February 2009
Pretoria: South African Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe will hold
the first round of bilateral consultations with the Assistant Foreign Minister
for Follow-Up Affairs of the State of Qatar Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Rumaihi at
the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Camps Bay, Cape Town on Wednesday, 4
February 2009.
The bilateral consultations between Deputy Minister van der Merwe and Mr
Al-Rumaihi are held within the context of South Africa's priority to
consolidate relations with all countries of the Gulf.
Issues on the agenda of the consultations between Deputy Minister van der
Merwe and Mr Al-Rumaihi are expected to include, among others:
* review of bilateral relations,
* developments in South Africa and Africa,
* developments in the Middle East, and
* economic relations in the fields of defence, science and technology, energy,
arts and culture, education and status of bilateral agreements.
Bilateral relations
South Africa and Qatar enjoy good bilateral relations dating back to 1994
and have strengthened over the years and Qatar is strategically of great
importance to South Africa as it contains oil reserves of 15,21 billion
barrels, while its natural gas reserves exceed 25 trillion cubic meters. The
Amir of Qatar visited South Africa in 2002 and then President Mbeki visited
Qatar in May 2008. The Amir remains the only Gulf Head of State to have visited
South Africa.
Qatar investment in South Africa and Africa
The Qatar Investment Authority has invested United States Dollars (US$) 400
million in an investment fund, the PME Infrastructure Management Limited Fund.
The fund is investing in infrastructure in Africa and is concentrating on the
areas of transportation, communication and energy. According to the government
of Qatar, South Africa is the biggest beneficiary and of this fund which is
considered to be the first investment by the Qatar Investment Authority in
South Africa.
South African investments in Qatar
South African companies have been fairly successful in obtaining contracts
for major projects in Qatar. Sasol and Qatar Petroleum entered into a US$900
million joint venture gas-to-liquid facility at Ras Lafan. The plant was
inaugurated on 6 June 2006 by the Minister of Minerals and Energy Bulelwa
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 and 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 the 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, primarily due to its export of crude oil and petrochemicals to South
Africa. The export of military equipment is not reflected in South African
Revenue Service (SARS) trade statistics, but, according to the National
Conventional Arms Control Committee, these reached only R1,2m in 2005.
Bilateral trade
Year: 2002
SA exports: R46 565 197
SA imports: R429 545 033
Total trade: R476 110 230
Year: 2003
SA exports: R55 087 759
SA imports: R344 187 993
Total trade: R399 275 752
Year: 2004
SA exports: R66 574 978
SA imports: R684 211 845
Total trade: R750 786 823
Year: 2005
SA exports: R78 509 086
SA imports: R911 948 887
Total trade: R990 457 973
Year: 2006
SA exports: R148 293 200
SA imports: R1 221 878 660
Total trade: R1 370 171 860
Year: 2007
SA exports: R261 882 837
SA imports: R744 130 520
Total trade: R1 006 013 357
Top five products imported and exported in 2007
Exports to Qatar:
Chemical products
Machinery and mechanical appliances
Transport equipment
Base metals
Animal products
Imports from Qatar:
Chemical products
Plastic products
Transport equipment
Machinery
Paper products
Tourism statistics
Period: Jan to Dec 2005
Visitors: 493
Period: Jan to Dec 2006
Visitors: 407
Period: Jan to Dec 2007
Visitors: 253
Media programme for visit to South Africa by Qatar Assistant Minister for
Follow-up Affairs, Wednesday 4 February 2009
14h00: Media to arrive ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of
bilateral discussions between Deputy Minister van der Merwe and Assistant
Minister Al-Rumaihi
14h35: Photo opportunity
Venue: Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Camps Bay, Milkwood 2
Please RSVP to:
E-mail: ngculut@foreign.gov.za
Please present press cards
Contact:
Thembela Ngculu
Cell: 082 387 5611
16h00: Media to arrive ahead joint press conference by Deputy Minister van
der Merwe and Assistant Minister Al-Rumaihi
Venue: Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Camps Bay, Milkwood 1
Please RSVP to:
E-mail: ngculut@foreign.gov.za
Please present press cards
Contact:
Thembela Ngculu
Cell: 082 387 5611
16h45: Joint press conference by Deputy Minister van der Merwe and Assistant
Minister Al-Rumaihi
For further information contact:
Thembela Ngculu
Cell: 082 387 5611
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
3 February 2009
