South African President Jacob Zuma’s State visit to Norway this week would largely focus on trade, development and climate change issues, the Presidency said in a statement.

Trade between South Africa and Norway has been on the rise since 2001, and total trade flows increased from R746-million in 2005, to R3.1-billion in 2010. This reflected an increase of 326%.

South Africa’s exports to Norway increased from R352-million in 2006 to R2.3-billion in 2010, a jump of 561% in four years. Imports from Norway increased from R683-million in 2006 to R853-million in 2010.

South Africa hoped to further boost trade volumes, as well as to obtain Norway’s support for the seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP 17) on climate change, and various multilateral and African agenda issues.

Zuma would meet King Harald V, as well as Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Parliament Dag Terje Andersen.

Zuma would address a business seminar organised by the Department of Trade and Industry and Innovation Norway.

The president would also deliver a lecture at the Nobel Peace Institute and meet with the representatives of the former anti-apartheid organisations in Norway.

Norway was a strong supporter of the South African struggle for liberation and democracy. Norway was an important contributor both financially and practically in the struggle against apartheid.

The visit was reciprocal following a Norwegian State visit to South Africa in 2009, and upon invitation of King Harald V.

Zuma would be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

Zuma would also be joined by a business delegation operating in the following sectors - oil, gas and resource management; renewable energy; information and communication technologies; tourism and agro-processing and aqua-culture.