Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Switzerland's Foreign Minister, Federal Councillor (Dr) Joseph Deiss, will visit South Africa from 11 to 13 October 1999 at the invitation of his South African counterpart Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. He will be accompanied by a senior delegation consisting of a member of the Swiss Parliament, government officials representing the Foreign Ministry, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, and members of the Swiss media.
It is of special significance that Minister Deiss' visit to Africa and specifically South Africa represents his first visit outside of Europe since assuming his pst earlier this year. South Africa welcomes this commitment on the part of the Minister and the Swiss government.
Apart from a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma, he will also meet with the Minister of Land Affairs, Minister Thoko Didiza, and the Minister of Provincial and Local Affairs, Minister Sydney Mufamadi to discuss technical areas of cooperation. Minister Deiss will also make an extensive one da visit to the Eastern Cape Province, which will include a tour of projects supported by the Swiss goverment.
Bilateral relations with Switzerland are excellent and are maintained at an intensive level of interaction. The latter is manifested through strong and growing economic and cultural relations, bilateral development cooperation and joint activities in promoting regional development.
During the State Visit to South Africa by President Cotti in August 1998 a Declaration of Intent on Joint Activities between the respective Departments of Foreign Affairs was signed. Since then a very active South Africa/Swiss Working Group has been established. One of the focal points of the visit will in fact be the co-chairing by Ministers Dlamini-Zuma and Deiss of the meeting of the South Africa/Switzerland Working Group on 12 October 1999 in Pretoria. On that occasion the two ministers will also sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Activities for the period January 2000 - December 2004 which will govern Swiss-South African Development Cooperation. The latter will continue to focus on democratic governance, education, land reform and land use.
Switzerland is one of South Africa's main trading partners whilst South Africa itself is by far Switzerland's primary trading partner on the African continent. Export figures for 1998 indicate that R1,537 billion worth of goods left South Africa whilst Swiss goods worth R3,808 billion were imported. Exports from South Africa mainly consist f gold, diamonds, coal, platinum, fresh and canned fruits, jewellery and wine. Swiss exports to South Africa include chemicals and pharmaceuticals as the main export commodity, as well as electrical appliances, machinery and technical equipment.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Pretoria
10 OCTOBER 1999