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1 February 2005

Pretoria – South African President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will, on Wednesday – 2 February 2005 – attend the inauguration of the new Mozambican President, Armando Guebuza, in Maputo, Mozambique.

In his message of congratulations following the election of President Guebuza, President Mbeki said, "Surely, your election by the people of Mozambique through successful democratic elections indicates their confidence in you as their leader and thus to make a meaningful contribution in the enhancement of democracy in Africa."

The strategic bilateral political and economic relations between South Africa and Mozambique find expression through structured bilateral relations in the form of the South Africa/Mozambique Heads of State Economic Bilateral and the Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation, which was signed by the Presidents of the two countries.

Mozambique has been and continues to be a strong supporter of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and an active member of the African Union (AU) in the implementation of its economic program, New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

Bilateral Economic relations: (R’000 000)

1999
* SA Exports: 4,082
* SA Imports: 0,321

2000
* SA Exports: 5,104
* SA Imports: 0,312

2001
* SA Exports: 5,784
* SA Imports: 0,302

2002
* SA Exports: 5,906
* SA Imports: 0,909

TOP 5 TRADED PRODUCTS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND MOZAMBIQUE (2002)

SA Exports to Mozambique

* Mineral Products
Rank: 1
% Total: 29.0

* Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels
Rank: 2
% Total: 15.9

* Base Metals & Articles
Rank: 3
% Total: 12.5

* Machinery & Mechanical Appliances
Rank: 4
% Total: 10.4

* Prepared Foodstuffs & Beverages
Rank: 5
% Total: 9.0

SA Imports from Mozambique

* Base Metals and Articles
Rank: 1
% Total: 48.9

* Mineral Products
Rank: 2
% Total: 22.9

* Textiles & Textile Articles
Rank: 3
% Total: 5.8

* Prepared Foodstuffs & Beverages
Rank: 4
% Total: 5.0

Machinery and Mechanical Appliances
Rank: 5
% Total: 4.7

These South African exports include goods such as, mineral products; vehicles, aircraft, vessels; base metals and articles; machinery and mechanical appliances; prepared foodstuffs and beverages; products of chemical origin; live animals and animal products; vegetable products; wood products; plastics and other plastic products.

Mozambican exports to South Africa include goods such as base metals and articles; mineral products; textiles and textile articles; prepared foodstuffs, beverages; machinery and mechanical appliances; live animals and animal products; vegetable products; articles of stone, as well as wood and articles of wood.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
1 February 2005