Visiting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is to make a courtesy call on President Thabo Mbeki before meeting Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Nqcuka on Tuesday. Mlambo-Ngcuka and Ahern were expected to discuss bilateral relations and development issues, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

Other issues on the agenda include the forthcoming South Africa-Ireland partnership forum, the status of the Northern Ireland peace process; promotion of economic relations between the two countries; conflict resolution in Africa; and the outcomes of the European Union-Africa Summit held in Portugal in December. "Bilateral relations between Ireland and South Africa are cordial and on a sound basis, with the two countries sharing similar values and agreeing on many international issues," the department said.

Ahern, who arrived in South Africa on Sunday, has brought the largest Irish trade mission to South Africa with over fifty companies participating, including businesses from Northern Ireland. Trade between the two countries has grown substantially over the year with exports totalling R1.1 billion and imports totalling R4.3 million in 2006, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

On Monday Ahern announced that the Irish government had approved a five million Euro grant (about R50 million) for building township houses in South Africa. The announcement was made during his visit to the Niall Mellon Township Trust in Cape Town. The Niall Mellon Township Trust is the largest provider of charity housing in South Africa, and has built more than 5000 houses for shack-dwellers over the past six years.

The trust is well known for its recruitment of hundreds of Irish volunteer builders, who give of their time and expertise to visit South Africa each year to build houses for the poor. Ahern is also scheduled to visit Tanzania before returning home.