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Deputy Minister Pahad to co-chair Chile-South Africa Joint Consultative Mechanism
29 July 2008
Pretoria: South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will on Wednesday, 30 July 2008, depart for Santiago, Chile where he is scheduled to co-chair, together with Under-Secretary Alberto van Klaveren, the third Joint Consultative Mechanism between Chile and South Africa on Thursday, 31 July 2008.
Deputy Minister Pahad will co-chair the Joint Consultative Mechanism within the context of South Africa's efforts to strengthen bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Chile with a view to strengthening South-South co-operation.
This third session of the Joint Consultative Mechanism seeks to add stature and profile to South Africa's relationship with Chile while expanding the good bilateral relations which already exist in a number of fields.
In this regard discussions between Deputy Minister Pahad and Under Secretary Van Klaveren will, among others, seek to:
* Evaluate bilateral political, economic and trade relations in a variety of areas and to provide impetus for their expansion in order to mirror the sound political relations which already exist.
* Consolidate the political like-mindedness and goodwill existing between South Africa and Chile in both bilateral and multilateral contexts.
* Appraise the Chilean leadership on the development of the African Union and its institutions including New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) with a view to increasing awareness of and support for the African Agenda.
* Exchange views on prospects for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round and
* Discuss developments pertaining to other current world issues.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Two-way trade amounts to approximately US$ 150 million per annum.
South African companies regularly participate in large international trade shows in Chile, such as EXPOMIN and EXPONORD (mining); FIDAE (aviation); and EXPONAVAL (naval). On a smaller scale, trade shows specialising in such industries as tourism, wine-making; food production, transport and forestry are also attended by South African companies.
South African investments in Chile (or investments which have a South African component) are estimated by the Chile-South African Chamber of Commerce to be between US$ six to eight billion, in mining; leisure and entertainment; aquaculture, food production and the wine industry.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
29 July 2008