[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

5 June 2008

Madrid: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today, Thursday, 5 June 2008, concluded successful economic bilateral discussions with her Spanish Counterpart, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos in Madrid.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is in Spain on a two-day official visit aimed at boosting economic ties between South Africa and Spain. Economic relations between South Africa and Spain have grown at a very rapid pace recently, with the total trade between the two countries amounting to R19 billion, having doubled over the past four years and which is heavily in South Africa's favour.

The two ministers agreed that this augurs well for the future development of economic relations and agreed on concrete steps to further enhance this growing relationship, which is to mutual benefit. It was inter alia agreed that the two governments would actively encourage the visits by business delegations to the respective countries, as a result of the positive economic growth in both countries in recent years. Minister Moratinos indicated that Spanish companies are further actively exploring investment opportunities in South Africa in sectors such as construction, agro-food processing, and the tourism and hospitality industry.

The ministers agreed that despite the fact that political relations between the two governments were excellent, political considerations between the two governments should be intensified and broadened. The two ministers further agreed on the need for high-level visits at Heads of State/Government level at the earliest mutual convenience. In this regard it was agreed that the next round of political consultations chaired by the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs should take place before the end of the year. In addition, Minister Dlamini Zuma invited Minister Moratinos to pay an official visit to South Africa at the earliest possible date.

Minister Dlamini Zuma and Minister Moratinos also discussed recent developments inter alia in Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe, the Western Sahara, efforts by the South African government to stem the tide of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as well as the issue of the Barcelona process; Mediterranean Union. In this context Minister Dlamini Zuma welcomed an expanded role by Spain on the African continent in support of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), economic development and conflict resolution.

Minister Dlamini Zuma and Minister Moratinos further discussed possible areas of multilateral co-operation such as United Nation (UN) reform, the reform of the international financial architecture as well as issues related to the G8.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is later today scheduled to hold further discussions with Spanish businesses which have invested in South Africa as part of efforts to encourage more investments into South Africa.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will on Friday, 6 June address members of the African Diplomatic Corps based in Madrid on recent African developments.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
5 June 2008