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6 May 2008

Doha City: President and Mrs Thabo Mbeki, who is on a two-day State visit to Qatar, is expected on Wednesday, to visit Oryx-GTL plant, a facility representing South Africa's foreign investment in technology, converting gas into liquid.

Oryx-GTL represents the cutting edge technology from South Africa, with a number of world firsts. This is the first time that such facility of the highest technical complexity was erected by Sasol and its sub-contractors in Qatar, with a number of items of equipment used in the plant being the largest of their type in the world, and being operated under new conditions not experienced before.

President and Mrs Thabo Mbeki, who arrived earlier today in Qatar, is on a two-day state visit from Tuesday to Wednesday supported by the Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota, the Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils, the Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena, the Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa; Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad and senior business executives.

The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral political, economic and trade relations between South Africa and Qatar while advancing South-South co-operation. While in Qatar President Mbeki is expected to hold bilateral political and economic discussions with the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, scheduled for later today.

Discussions are expected to focus on, amongst others:

* The review of the status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.
* Discussions on post-conflict and peacekeeping efforts in Africa.
* Middle East situation including Palestine-Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Syria.
* Qatari support for Accelerated and Shared Growth-South Africa (AsgiSA) and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) programmes.
* Other issues of mutual interest including the comprehensive reform of the United Nations.

While in Qatar, President Mbeki, will address the South Africa – Qatar Business Forum aimed at stimulating discussions on economic and commercial liberalization to further encourage the expansion and the involvement of foreign investment between the two countries.

President Mbeki is also expected to attend a graduation ceremony at the Qatar Foundation on Wednesday, 8 May 2008.

The Qatar Foundation houses educational facilities which range from school age to research level, including branch campuses of some of the world's leading universities. It was established by the Amir in 1995 to prepare the people of Qatar and the region to meet challenges of an ever-changing world, to make Qatar a leader in innovative education and research.

President Mbeki and his delegation are expected to return to South Africa Wednesday, 8 May 2008

For enquiries please contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 459 3787

Mukoni Ratshitanga
Cell: 082 300 3447

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
6 May 2008