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Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Sam Nujoma will co-chair the fifth meeting of the Heads of State and Government of South Africa and Namibia on Bilateral Economic Co-operation on Friday, 1 August 2003 in Windhoek, Namibia.

President Mbeki will be accompanied by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin; The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Valli Moosa; and the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

During the meeting the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, and his Namibian counterpart, Jesaya Myamu, will present progress reports on the status of projects following the fourth meeting of this forum in Pretoria on 18 March 2003.

Issues on the agenda of the economic bilateral meeting include:

* The Walvis Bay Development corridor initiative;
* The Trans-Gariep and Ouzit tourism projects;
* The Kudu Gas and Western corridor projects;
* The implementation of the SADC Trade Protocol and the South African Customs Union (SACU) renegotiation.

On conclusion of the economic bilateral meeting, a treaty establishing the Ais-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park will be signed. This follows negotiations between the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the South African National Parks and Peace Parks Foundation.

The signing of this agreement will enhance regional co-operation in environmental management and conservation. Among the potential tourism projects that will emerge are:

* Guided tours by vehicle, hiking trails and overnight camping;
* Specialist botanical, geological, ornithological, photographic or cultural tours
* River rafting and canoeing
* Mountain bike, horse trails and camel trails
* Angling
* Overnight accommodation, campsites, a shop and information centre
* Visits by educational institutions.

It is also envisaged that a gas agreement will be signed. This is aimed at institutionalising energy-related interactions, exchange of modern technology and capacity building. The gas agreement is a technical and administrative instrument that will allow the movement of gas across the border of South Africa and Namibia.

BACKGROUND

1. Fact Sheet: Namibia

Head of State: President Sam Nujoma
Land Area: 842,269 sq. km
Population: 1.74m
Urbanisation: 27%
Capital city: Windhoek
Main towns: Walvis Bay
Climate: Arid, semi-arid and subtropical
Primary school numbers: 352 100
GDP at market price (N$ m): 16.450
Real GDP growth (5): 2.0
Population: 1.64m
Exports (US$m): Total value: 1,420, commodities are diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins. Partners are UK, South Africa, Spain and Japan

2. Bilateral trade between South Africa and Namibia

Country: Namibia

2000: 0.3
1999: 3.8
1998: 0.5
1997: 5.4
% Increase (1997 - 2000): 94

3. Top four imports from and export to Namibia

* IMPORTS
Food
Beverages
Machinery
Transport equipments

* EXPORTS
Live animals
Meat
Fish
Mineral products

5. South Africa's trade with Namibia

South Africa is the source of 80-90% of Namibia's imports by value, including virtually all commodities. Food, beverages and, increasingly, machinery and transport equipment, are the biggest import categories. Bilateral trade between South Africa and Namibia accounts for two thirds of Namibia's total foreign trade. South Africa's imports from Namibia are estimated at 41% and consist of live animals, meat, fish and mineral products while exports are estimated at 84% and dominated by transport equipments, machinery and other manufactured goods.

6. Projects between South Africa and Namibia

Kudu gas: Exploration of gas in Namibia aimed at supplying Western Cape.

Coast-to-Coast is a transport corridor whose main objective is to link the two coastal ports of Maputo in the Indian Ocean and Walvis Bay in the Atlantic Ocean.

Richtersveld/Ais-Ais Transfrontier Park: The project entails the establishment of a cross-border conservation area. The proposed park covers about 5806 square km, 32% of which is in South Africa. In Namibia the Fish River Canyon and the Ais-Ais hot springs will form part of the park

Walvis Bay Development Corridor: The Namibian transport corridor (Walvis Bay-Caprivi-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor) of which the Trans-Caprivi Highway is part; and the Walvis Bay-Botswana-Gauteng-Maputo Corridor of which the Trans-Kalahari Highway forms part.

IDC Projects: 2003

Name: Komsberg Table Grape Farming
Value: R34.5 million
Status: Implementation

Name: Afhold (Sepiolite Mining)
Value: R22 million
Status: Implementation

Name: Noordoewer Investments (T/A Camel Lodge)
Value: R11 million
Status: Implementation

Name: Rossing Uranium
Value: 10.4% Equity Stake
Status: Implementation

Agreements between South Africa and Namibia

Date: 1998/05/18
Title: Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains. Entered into force - 11.4.1999

Date: 1998/03/30
Title: Namibia Declaration of Intent in regard to Co-operation in the Fields of Agriculture and the Food Processing Industry

Date: 1997/11/26
Title: Memorandum of Understanding on Natural Gas Trade

Date: 1997/06/10
Title: Agreement on Defence and Security.

Date: 1997/06/10
Title: Agreement concerning Defence Co-operation.

Date: 1997/03/24
Title: Bilateral Agreement concerning Debt.

Date: 1996/09/20
Title: Agreement relating to Housing Matters in Walvis Bay.

Date: 1996/09/12
Title: Agreement regarding the Employment of Dependants of Diplomatic and Consular Personnel.

Date: 1994/05/16
Date: Agreement on the Carriage of Goods by Road

Date: 1994/04/26
Title: Agreement regarding payment from 1.3.1994 of benefits in terms of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1966 (Act 30 of 1966) to Walvis Bay contributors

Date: 1994/04/22
Title: Agreement concerning Broadcasting Services to Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/17
Title: Agreement relating to Local Government Matters in Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/04
Title: Agreement with respect to Mineral and Energy Matters relating to Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement between the Multilateral Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund of the Rep of South Africa and the Government of the Rep of Namibia relating to Third Party Compensation matters in view of the Incorporation/Reintegration of Walvis Bay into Namibia.

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement with respect to Prisons Matters in Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement with a view to regulating certain Taxation Matters with regard to South African Taxes and Duties and Namibian Taxes and Duties in Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement respect of Health and Welfare Services relating to Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement concerning Sea Fisheries functions in Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement concerning Nature Conservation Functions in Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement concerning Hospital and Health Services in Walvis Bay.

Date: 1994/03/01
Title: Agreement regarding Schools and Adult Education in Walvis Bay.

Date: 1994/02/28
Title: Treaty between the Government of the Rep of South Africa and the Government of the Rep of Namibia with respect to Walvis Bay and the Off-Shore Islands.

Date: 1994/02/27
Title: Agreement with respect to Road Transport and Road Traffic matters relating to Walvis Bay

Date: 1994/02/25
Title: Agreement relating to the Promotion of Co-operation in the field of Administration of Justice

Date: 1994/02/22
Title: Agreement on Co-operation in the Policing of Walvis

Date: 1994/02/17
Title: Agreement on matters relating to Defence and Civil Aviation in Walvis Bay.

Date: 1993/12/15
Title: Agreement relating to the Administration of the Judicial System after the Incorporation/ Reintegration of Walvis Bay into Namibia.

Date: 1993/09/14
Title: Bilateral Monetary Agreement.

Date: 1993/09/09
Title: Agreement regarding co-operation in the fields of Culture, Education and the Sciences.

Date: 1993/08/03
Title: Agreement regarding the Provision of Technical and Administrative Personnel by the Government of the Rep. of South Africa to the Government of the Rep. of Namibia.

Date: 1993/02/12
Title: Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement concerning Formal School and Technical College Instructional Programmes and the performance by the South African Certification Council of functions in the Republic of Namibia.

Date: 1993/02/11
Title: Agreement regarding the movement of animals, animal products, parasites and infectious and contaminated things between the two countries

Date: 1993/02/11
Title: Agreement regarding Standards of Livestock breeding and the importation of breeding animals, semen, ova or eggs in Southern Africa.

Date: 1992/11/05
Title: Agreement relating to the Basic conditions governing the secondment of Judges.

Date: 1992/11/01
Title: Agreement by way of Exchange of Notes on the Joint Administration of Walvis Bay and the off-shore islands.

Date: 1992/10/20
Title: Agreement regarding Trade Tests for Apprentices and other prospective Artisans.

Date: 1992/09/14
Title: Agreement on the Vioolsdrift and Noordoewer joint irrigation scheme.

Date: 1992/09/14
Title: Agreement on the establishment of a Permanent Water Commission.

Date: 1992/04/01
Title: Bilateral Monetary Agreement between the Governments of the Republics of South Africa and Namibia.

Date: 1992/04/01
Title: Agreement between the Governments of the Republics of South Africa and Namibia regarding financial

Date: 1991/03/22
Title: Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement to curb and prevent illegal fishing.

Date: 1990/05/18
Title: Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement concerning Privileges and Immunities for the Representatives and their staff.

Date: 1990/04/04
Title: Bilateral Monetary Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Namibia.

For further information contact: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853, Bheki Khumalo on 083 256 9133, Nomfanelo Kota on 082 377 7208, David Hlabane on 082 561 9428

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs

31 July 2003