RIYADH, 27 April 2004 — As South Africa marks its 10th Independence Day anniversary today it is enjoying excellent bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia. “This is shown by the similar stands of the two countries on global issues like the Middle East peace process,” said to Ambassador Abdulhamied Gabier.
Members of the South African Cabinet have been visiting the Kingdom since 1994, including President Thabo Mbeki in February 2001 and senior officials continue to exchange visits.
The most recent visits were those of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.G.H. Pahad in both January and March 2003, Minister of Defense M.G.P. Lekota in September 2003, and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry B.L. Hendricks in December 2003.
Former President Nelson Mandela visited the Kingdom in November 2001 and again during the latter part of March 2004 in a private capacity.
A number of Saudi Arabian Cabinet members have visited South Africa. Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, visited South Africa in March 1999.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim Yamani will lead a Saudi delegation to South Africa at the end of May. The delegation will take part in the First Ministerial Commission meeting between the two countries. Other members of the delegation will come from the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and businessmen.
Issues to be discussed include trade and industrial cooperation and strengthening the collaboration in the fields of education, mining, science, and sport. A memorandum of understanding on the protection of investment is expected to be signed during the visit and others on education and sport are being finalized for signing during the visit.
The joint efforts of both countries in getting the Middle East peace process back on track reflects positively on South-South cooperation. South Africa, like Saudi Arabia, delivered a statement to the Industrial Court of Justice on February 23, 2004 regarding the construction of the wall being built in Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Trade between the two countries, which amounts to $2 billion annually — excluding oil and other related products — has more than doubled since the establishment of diplomatic ties. “There is a potential for growth in two-way trade, as South Africa can offer not only its domestic market to potential exporters but also serve as an effective and efficient gateway to the markets of the 14 countries of the Southern African Development Community with a market size of 145 million people,” Gabier said.
“Our exports to the Kingdom include agricultural products, gold, diamonds, livestock and minerals.”
South Africa imports about 40 percent of its oil requirements from the Kingdom.
“Given the warm relationships between our two economies and cooperation in resolving the Libyan crisis, the opportunity for developing a sustainable and mutually beneficial trade and investment environment is well within our reach,” he said.
Annual meetings between South African Haj delegation and the Saudi Ministry of Haj has to a great extent resolved many matters affecting South African pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. About 1,200 South African pilgrims take part in the Haj and 12,000 in Umrah.
