Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
4 July 2000
The Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, will pay his first visit to South Africa from 6 to 7 July 2000 to hold discussions with President Thabo Mbeki on the situation in central Africa and the Great Lakes region. During his visit the Prime Minister will also call on former President Mr Neslon Mandela to discuss the peace efforts in the Great Lakes region.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his Deputy and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Louis Michel who will hold separate discussions with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad. This visit by the Belgian Prime Minister will further strengthen the extensive bilateral relations between the two countries.
Belgium is one of the major trading partners of South Africa, with two-way trade exceeding R6 billion. Belgium is further a major foreign investor in South Africa with investments exceeding R 4 billion, as most of the large Belgium corporations have fixed investments in this country. South Africa and Belgium have very strong cultural links demonstrated by the fact that more than 40 000 Belgian citizens are resident in South Africa.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853