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Deputy President Jacob Zuma is to lead a delegation of Ministers and senior government officials to the third SA/Nigeria Bi-National Commission to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from March 12 to 15, 2001.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by the following Ministers:

Alec Erwin - Trade and Industry
Jeff Radebe - Public Enterprises
Thoko Didiza - Agriculture and Land Affairs
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri - Communications
Terror Lekota - Defence,
Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad - Foreign Affairs
Deputy Minister Susan Shabangu - Minerals & Energy.

Officials include the Director-General of Home Affairs, Billy Masethla.

Following the establishment of the South Africa-Nigeria BNC at its inaugural session in Abuja in October 1999, substantial progress has been made in formalising the strategic relationship between the two countries.

The inaugural session served largely to identify potential strategic sectors of co-operation. The second session of the BNC held in Pretoria in April 2000 marked the start of consultations through the establishment of the first formal Working Groups, and the conclusion of several co-operation agreements.

Agreements on co-operation in the agricultural sector and in the fields of science and technology are ready to be signed. Other pending agreements relate to co-operation on the promotion of trade and investment, minerals and energy, agriculture, public enterprises, police co-operation and extradition treaty.

The Commission will also finalise areas of co-operation on sustainable security, stability and development on the African continent, as well as co-operation between African countries.

President Thabo Mbeki and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, together with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria recently unveiled the Millennium Africa Renaissance Programme, which is an example of international initiatives in which South Africa and Nigeria are playing a leading role.

The Deputy President will depart at 10h00 on March 11, 2001 and return on March 15.

Contact: Lakela Kaunda on 082 782 2575.

Issued by: The Presidency, 9 March 2001