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The South African President, Jacob Zuma will tomorrow address the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum in Abuja, Nigeria.  The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says the purpose of the forum is to encourage strategic engagements at business to business level in order to identify and strengthen opportunities for trade and investment cooperation. 
The Business Forum will among others focus on the following sectors:
• Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing
• Infrastructure, Energy and Mineral Beneficiation
• Services (Hospitalities, Pharmaceuticals/Health, ICT and Finances.

Minister Davies says that Nigeria has emerged as a priority country for South African business. 
“Nigeria remains an important and strategic economic partner for South Africa particularly due its geo-political position in the West Africa region, its economic size and strategic importance in terms of trade and access to the broader ECOWAS region”, adds Davies.

Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma today held official talks with President Muhammadi Buhari of the Republic Federal of Nigeria. President Zuma is in Nigeria on a two day State Visit and is accompanied by Ministers and Business People.
President Zuma said that the relations between South Africa and Nigeria date back to the time when Nigeria supported and contributed to the liberation of the country and its people.

President Zuma added that he had fruitful discussions with President Buhari, as they reviewed various bilateral and multilateral issues.
“We have noted with satisfaction the ever growing cooperation in many sectors including trade and investment; defence and security; immigration matters; energy; mineral resources, to mention but a few”, said the President.

President Zuma further said the South Africa-Nigeria Binational Commission that was established in 1999 has been elevated to the level of Heads of State.
The two countries have signed over 30 bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding. These agreements cover a wide range of cooperation areas including trade and industry, transport, energy, defence and security and immigration among others. President Zuma stated that they have directed the relevant Ministers to move with speed in implementing all signed agreements and identify joint projects in the key high impact strategic development areas.

There over one hundred and twenty South African companies currently doing business in Nigeria, in various sectors, mainly telecommunications, banking, retail, property, entertainment and hospitality. We welcome this significant development.

Issued by the dti