Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
9 April 2001
Following her attendance of the Ministerial meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Organisation for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) meeting in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman, Minister Dlamini Zuma will be visiting the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 11 April 2001.
During her visit the Minister will be meeting several members of the Emirati Government and Royal family, amongst them, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bi Zayed al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Fahim Sultan Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy and Commerce as well as with is Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will use the visit to discuss bilateral relations between the UAE and South Africa that has grown substantially since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1995. The United Arab Emirates became South Africa's number 1 trading partner in the Arabian Gulf in 1999 with exports recorded at R 1.3 billion in 2000. Total bilateral trade between the two countries reached R 1.9 billion in 2000, an increase of more than 24% over 1999.
The United Arab Emirates has also been identified as a strategic partner as far as poverty alleviation in Southern Africa is concerned. Co-operation between the two countries aimed at combating drug trafficking will also come under discussion during the visit. The Minister will also discuss the current state of the Middle East Peace Process with the UAE Government.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is also scheduled to meet with representatives of South African companies in the UAE, currently totalling more than 30 as well as with a number of representatives of the growing South African community in the United Arab Emirates.
For more information contact Basetsana Thokoane
Cell no. 083 443 7740
Tel no. 012 351 0174