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9 Jun 2012

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe arrived back home on Friday, 8 June 2012  from a two day working visit to the Republic of Turkey. The purpose of the visit was to further strengthen bilateral political and economic relations between South Africa and Turkey.

The highlight of the visit was the signing of an agreement on the establishment of the South Africa-Turkey Bi-National Commission, which elevated the relations between the two countries to a higher strategic level. The South Africa-Turkey Bi-National Commission will enhance cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economics, trade, defence, security, agriculture, minerals, energy, education, tourism, sport and environment.

The commission, which will meet once in every two years, will be co-chaired by Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit also focused on matters of defence and energy.  

With regards to defence it was agreed that the Defence Industry Cooperation Agreement will be signed in September 2012 in South Africa. With regards to energy South Africa and Turkey have a mutual interest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and coal to liquid technology. A memorandum of understanding is at an advanced stage and would be signed in near future.

Deputy President Motlanthe was accompanied by the Minister of Energy Ms Dipuo Peters, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms Lindiwe Sisulu and the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim.

Enquiries:
Mr Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087

Issued by: The Presidency
9 Jun 2012

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