Mr Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be leading the South African delegation to the Extraordinary Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-Operation which takes place in Muscat, Oman, from 22 to 23 January 2000.
South Africa is a founder member of the IOR-ARC which has as its aim to promote regional co-operation amongst states littoral to the Indian Ocean in a wide range of sectors, with particular emphasis on the promotion of trade and regional economic development.
At the forthcoming meeting matters pertaining to the Organization’s Charter, applications for membership and the Headquarters Agreement will be discussed.
In addition issues pertinent to the promotion of trade and investment will receive particular attention. In this regard the IOR-ARC is viewed as an important vehicle for the promotion of South-South co-operation.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Pretoria
20 JANUARY 2000