Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will visit South Africa from 21 to 25 August 1995, at the invitation of President N R Mandela. Dr Mahathir will be accompanied by members of his cabinet, and a high powered business delegation of approximately 200 Malaysian businessmen.
The visit by Dr Mahathir at this time is a defining event in the future relations between South Africa and Malaysia. Over the past two years Malaysia has emerged as a significant commercial and political ally for South Africa, and the focus will now shift to the creation of mechanisms to ensure a continuation of this mutually beneficial relationship.
To further this end, Dr Mahathir will have discussions with President N R Mandela, Deputy President T Mbeki, Deputy President F W de Klerk, and senior members of cabinet. A highlight of his visit will be an address by Dr Mahathir to Parliament on Thursday, 24 August 1995.
Commercial contact between South Africa and Malaysia will be further enhanced by the "Malaysia South Africa Business Forum", which is scheduled to meet at Sun City on Tuesday, 22 August 1995, and where Dr Mahathir will deliver a keynote address. Malaysia is already a significant source of foreign direct investment for South Africa, as well as a substantial trading partner. Consequently the business content of the visit will focus on methods to further enhance Malaysian investment in South Africa. It will also be an opportunity for Malaysian companies to establish links with their South African counterparts through the signing of contracts and memoranda of understanding. Finally, it is envisaged that methods will be investigated to substitute Malaysian imports from third countries for South African imports, thereby increasing the already substantial value of trade between South Africa and Malaysia even further.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 18 AUGUST 1995