State Economic Bilateral Forum
20 November 2006
Pretoria: South African President, Thabo Mbeki, will on Tuesday, 21 November
2006, pay a working visit to Windhoek, Namibia, where he will, together with
his counterpart, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, co-chair the 6th session of the
SA-Namibia Head of State Economic Bilateral Forum, scheduled for later in the
day.
President Mbeki's delegation is expected to include Ministers Mandisi
Mpahlwa, Marthinus van Schalkwyk and Alec Erwin.
President Mbeki will participate in this session of the Economic Bilateral
Forum within the context of South Africa's commitment to consolidate economic
bilateral relations with Namibia.
Issues on the agenda of discussions of this session of the Economic
Bilateral Forum are expected to include, among others:
* Spatial Development Initiatives (SDI) including the Trans-Kalahari Highway,
Walvis Bay SDI, Okavango-Upper Zambezi International Tourism and the
Ais-Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
* energy issues including the Kudu Gas Project, Western Power Corridor and the
Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) Intergovernmental Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU)
* trade and industry issues including the South African Customs Union (SACU)
and Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocols
* marine and coastal management issues
* civil aviation issues
* Namibia's support during the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) World Cup.
Bilateral trade between South Africa and Namibia accounts for two thirds of
Namibia's total foreign trade. South Africa is the source of about 84% of
Namibia's imports by value, including virtually all commodities except for
petroleum products. Food, beverages and increasingly machinery and transport
equipment as well as other manufactured goods are the biggest import
categories. Namibia's exports to South Africa are estimated at 27,8% of the
country's total exports and consist mainly of live animals, meat, fish and
mineral products.
South Africa is Namibia's most important economic partner as South Africa is
the source of 84% of Namibia's imports and holds approximately 80% of
investments in key industries in Namibia such as mining, retail, banking and
insurance. Total investments by South Africa in Namibia currently amount to
US$1 637,5 million.
President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday, 21
November 2006.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
20 November 2006
