The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alec Erwin, will lead a South African delegation to Libya from 23-26 May 1999. He will be accompanied by the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Mr Peneull Maduna, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and a large multi-sectoral business group.
The business delegation will be represented by the following sectors: mining exploration, agricultural equipment, contruction, banking, aviation equipment and services, electricity services and telecommunications.
"The handover of the two suspects in the Lockerbie case has created favourable conditions for Libya's full reintegration into the international community which opens up many opportunities for the South African business community", Deputy Foreign Minister Pahad said in Pretoria earlier today. "It is important that our business community is exposed to the enormous potential which exists in Libya and the North African region" Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad added.
Deputy Minister Pahad emphasised that South Africa remains committed to forging deeper political and economic relations with the 70 million strong Maghreb region of North Africa. The Maghreb (which includes Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Tunisia), with its strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean basin, its increasingly progressive investment, trade and industrial policies coupled with its strong ties to the Arab world, offers many opportunities for South African Commerce and Industry. He added that it was also important that South Africa was well placed to take advantage of the implications of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership which was launched in Barcelona in 1995, when the European Union committed itself to promoting regional security and the establishment of a free trade area in the Mediterranean basin by 2010, with a combined population of 700 million people.
Deputy Minister Pahad will also use the opportunity to discuss the ongoing negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of particular interest will be the recent meetings which took place in Libya which included the participation of Presidents Kabila of the DRC, Kagame of Rwanda and Museveni of Uganda, which are seen as important contributions to the SADC efforts aimed at bringing about peace in the DRC.
The delegation will also have further discussions on the establishment of a South African Embassy in Tripoli.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
20 MAY 1999