Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE VISIT BY THE MOROCCAN SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COOPERATION TO SOUTH AFRICA: 10 TO 13 MAY 1998.
The Morrocan Secretary of State for Cooperation, Ms Aicha Belarbi, accompanied by a delegation of senior officials and businesspeople, will visit South Africa at the invitation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Phad, from 10 to 13 May 1998, to attend the first session of the Joint Bilateral Commission between the two countries.
The two Deputy Ministers will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the South African Department of Foreign Affairs and its Moroccan counterpart.
The Moroccan business delegation accompanying the Secretary of State, will have discussions with their South African interlocutors in order to explore the possibilities of further expanding bilateral trade between the two countries. Bilateral Trade reached R115 million in 1997, a threefold increase since 1994. The introduction of a direct flight between Casablanca and Johannesburg has not only contributed to this increase, but has also seen an increase in the number of tourists visiting both countries.
Ms Belarbi will also meet with the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr Ebrahim, as well as with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Frene Ginwala, during her stay in South Africa.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 10 MAY 1998