JEDDAH, 20 June 2004 — Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on environment, science and technology, strengthening business relations, and higher education, with discussion on their implementation mark the major outcome of the First South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Bilateral Commission meeting held in Pretoria recently, according to Mohamed Dangor, consul genera in Jeddah.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Business Unity South Africa and the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry was signed to further strengthen business to business ties.
Underlining the importance of the commission, Dangor told Arab News that it is the first such in any African country. He said what was significant was that the delegation was accompanied by a large number of Saudi businessmen as well.
“The official delegation met in Pretoria and the businessmen met with their counterparts in Johannesburg,” he said.
“Minister of Commerce and Industry Hashim Yamani led the official Saudi delegation, whereas Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa led the South African side. Yamani also called on Minister of Public Enterprises A. Erwin, and Minister in the Presidency E. Pahad,” he added.
Dangor said both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the bilateral relationship since the signing of the bilateral economic, trade, investment and technological cooperation agreement in May 1999.
They emphasized that the formalization of the Joint Commission was an effective mechanism to develop and expand the scope of cooperation and give it a wider horizon.
Saudi Arabia expressed its intention to send environmental experts to South Africa with the possibility of signing an MOU to promote cooperation in environment protection and management, waste management (general and hazardous waste), chemical safety, recycling of hazardous waste by utilizing the best ways of safe dumping, laws and technical regulations of chemical safety and hazardous waste management, exchange of experience and data in the fields of chemical safety and hazardous waste, and air pollution control — engineering and industrial pollution and climate change.
Both sides expressed satisfaction on reaching agreement on the final text of the MOU for cooperation between King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
They agreed to speed up the signing of the Science and Technology Agreement for cooperation in astronomy, information and computer technology, space research, energy, natural resources and environment, meteorology, and exchange of mathematicians with the African Institute of Mathematical Science.
Dangor said the two sides also agreed to finalize the MOU on cooperation in higher education, which could be signed before the next Joint Commission meeting to be held in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has presented some research proposals for higher education institutions in the Kingdom for consideration by the South African counterparts.
The consul general said both sides stressed the importance of increasing bilateral trade and expressed confidence at the Kingdom’s accession to the World Trade Organization which would be beneficial for both countries as well as the WTO member countries.
He said the Kingdom had expressed readiness to export various petrochemical products to South Africa, and extended an invitation to South African companies to invest in the mining and clothing and textiles sectors in the Kingdom. They also stressed the importance of increasing cooperation in the fields of geology, mining, mineral processing and beneficiation.