Issued by: Office of the Deputy President T. M. Mbeki
EXECUTIVE DEPUTY PRESIDENT MBEKI VISITS GERMANY
On Tuesday, the 30th September, 1997 the Executive Deputy President Mr. Thabo Mbeki will arrive in Germany on an official visit. The purpose of the visit is to inaugurate the German- South Africa Bi-National Commission together with Chancellor Kohl of Germany. During his stay in Germany Mr. Mbeki will hold meetings with Chancellor Kohl, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Klaus Kinkel. He will also hold discussions with the Minister for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development, Dr. Klaus Topfer, the Minister-President of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Dr. Johannes Rau, and the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Mr. Karl-Dieter Spranger.
The Deputy President will also hold discussions with the Chairman of the Board of Lufthansa, the German Airlines, Mr. Jurgen Weber.
Mr. Mbeki's visit to Germany must be seen within the context of the consolidation of the good relations that exists between South Africa and Germany.
These relations have been improving since the inauguration of President Mandela in 1994 and have been further enhanced by the successful visit of Chancellor Kohl to South Africa and President Mandela to Germany.
The Federal Republic of Germany is this country's biggest trading partner and the fifth investment source. It facilitates access of South African manufactured goods to the European Union and encourages investment by German companies and the expansion of trade relations.
Our total trade with Germany amounts to 20,83 billion rands while their investment is 19 billion rands. German companies employ about 60 000 South Africans and the government has pledged R270 million rands in development assistance for the current financial year.
This money is earmarked for housing, education, vocational training and health. A series of cooperation agreements ranging from investment, science and technology cooperation, air transport, double taxation to posts and telecommunications, sport and cooperation between provinces have been concluded and are being implemented.
The South African people stand to benefit immensely from the continuously improving relations between South Africa and Germany. Mr. Mbeki's visit to that country and the inauguration of the German-South Africa Bi-National Commission will help to further cement these ties of friendship between the two countries.
Issued by: Thambi Ntenteni Director: Communications Office of the Deputy President
26 September 1997