Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
4 February 2002
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma today, 4 February 2002 laid a firm foundation for the deepening and consolidation of trade and investment between south Africa and Iran.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma is currently in Iran, leading a joint government and private sector delegation to the 6th session of the SA-Iran joint Commission which began in Tehran on Monday 4th February 2002.
After the official opening session of the Joint Commission co-chaired with Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Minister Dlamini-Zuma met with Iranian Minister of Mines and Industry, Esshagh Jahanjeri.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma stressed South Africa's commitment to sharing its experience, technical expertise and complimentary capacities to advance the relationship between the two countries.
The minister re-iterated the commitment of South African companies to invest and to enter into joint ventures with their Iranian counterparts. Of concern to South Africa, however, the Minister stressed, is the need to remove obstacles such as high taxation, lack of security of tenure and investment protection which render the environment not conducive for foreign direct investment.
For his part the Iranian Minister of Mines and Industry assured Minister Dlamini-Zuma that steps are already been taken to remove these obstacles including:
The Minister is scheduled to meet with the Iranian First Vice President Dr. Mohammed Reza Aref.
For more information contact Mr Ronnie Mamoepa on 0911-212-9792.