Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
18 July 2000
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will host the joint the 4th SA-Egypt joint bilateral commission, which will be officially opened at 12noon Union Buildings, Pretoria on Wednesday. The Egyptian delegation led by Foreign Minister Amre Mussa is scheduled to arrive at 9.40am at the Waterkloof airbase in Pretoria, wand will include Minister of Energy and Electricity Ali Saiedi and a large business group.
The first bilateral commission started in Cairo in 1996, followed by the second one in Pretoria 1997, then in Cairo in 1998 and now in Pretoria.
The delegation will hold bilateral discussion with Minister Dlamini-Zuma before proceeding to the official opening of the commission.
The Commission will then break into six clusters, namely: Trade, transport, agriculture, bilateral relations, justice and crime prevention and minerals and energy.
A number of co-operation agreements are expected to be signed on Friday at the conclusion of the discussions, among others -between the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Cairo Stock Exchange, Pretoria University and Cairo University.
The South African Chamber of Business will sign a co-operation agreement with the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Cairo Chamber of Commerce, while various SA/Egypt inter-governmental will also sign pacts.
The commission will wind up its business at 10am on Friday when both ministers make closing speeches.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.