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Deputy President Jacob Zuma will together with his Nigerian counterpart, Vice President Atiku Abubaker, co-chair the fifth session of the SA-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) in Lagos, Nigeria from Wednesday to Thursday, 10 to 11 November 2003.

Deputy President Zuma will be accompanied by Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad.

During the session, which will be preceded by meetings of government officials within the sectors of co-operation covered by the Commission, bilateral consultations will be held within the context of the Commission's six existing Working Groups, i.e.:

* Trade, Industry & Finance Working Group
* Minerals and Energy Working Group
* Agriculture, Water Resources and the Environment Working Group
* Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Working Group
* Social and Technical Working Group
* Public Enterprises and Infrastructure Working Group

The session will provide the delegations of the two countries with the opportunity to assess the progress made within these Working Groups since the fourth session of the Commission held in South Africa in March 2002 and to further expand the areas of co-operation between South Africa and Nigeria.

The session will also serve to explore and agree on concrete actions to promote the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) within the various sectors of bilateral co-operation, an initiative in which the Heads of State of the two countries are playing a leading role.

With regard to bilateral co-operation, which focuses on the promotion of trade and investment between the two countries, substantial progress has already been made. Since the establishment of the Commission at its inaugural session in October 1999, Nigeria has become South Africa's largest trading partner in the West African region and its fourth largest partner on the African continent, with trade between the two countries having totalled R1,8 billion by November 2000. In the six months from January to June 2002, total bilateral trade had further increased to R 3,7 billion.

South African exports to Nigeria
Export values
* R 290,9 million (1998)
* R 514 million (1999)
* R 709 million (2000)
* R 1,6 billion (2001)
* R 1,1 billion (Jan-Jun 2002)

Main export products: Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment; sound and television recorders and reproducers and articles thereof; wood and other fibrous cellulosic pulp; waste and paper/paperboard scrap; paper and paperboard articles; prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits, vinegar and tobacco; plastics and rubber and articles thereof; chemicals and allied products; base metals and articles thereof.
South African imports from Nigeria
Import values
* R 439,3 million (1998)
* R 1,23 billion (1999)
* R 1,26 billion (2000)
* R 1,6 billion (2001)
* R 2,6 billion (Jan-Jun 2002)

Main import products: crude oil.

South African trade deficit with Nigeria
* R 148 million (1998)
* R 719 million (1999)
* R 571 million (2000)
* R 13 million (2001)
* R 1,5 billion (Jan-Jun 2002)

Total trade between South Africa & Nigeria
* R 730 million (1998)
* R 1,7 billion (1999)
* R 1,9 billion (2000)
* R 3,3 billion (2001)
* R 3,7 billion (Jan-Jun 2002)
Source: Department of Trade & Industry, September 2002

Among the major South African companies and parastatals that are already involved in Nigeria (and whose presence in Nigeria especially since 2000 has had a substantial impact on the sharp rise in the value of South African exports to Nigeria since then) are DSTV-Supersport, M-Cell/MTN, South African Airways, ESKOM Enterprises, Spoornet, Portnet, SOEKOR E & P, SASOL Limited, ENGEN, the Council for Geosciences, Mintek, Standard Bank, Umgeni Water Enterprises, Kagiso Publishing, Dewfresh Products, Grinaker-LTA, Safmarine, Protea Hotels and Gray Security Services.

In a multilateral context, where co-operation between the two countries focuses on bringing Africa into the mainstream of global political, social and economic developments, South Africa and Nigeria are at the forefront of efforts to promote the continent's interests on the international political and economic stage. In this regard, the fifth session of the Commission will also provide the two delegations with the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual concern within the context of the African Union and the United Nations.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa, 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs, 8 December 2003

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)