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BuaNews (Tshwane)

South Africa: Country, Guinea-Bissau Boost Bilateral Ties

6 August 2007

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Pretoria — South Africa and Guinea-Bissau are to strengthen their economic and political ties this week.

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is hosting her counterpart from Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Martinho Dafa Cabi at the Presidential Guesthouse for bilateral political and economic discussions.

Prime Minister Cabi is on a working visit to South Africa from Sunday 5 August until Saturday 11 August.

"Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will host Prime Minister Cabi within the context of South Africa's commitment to consolidate bilateral, political, economic and trade relations with all African countries as part of efforts of consolidating the African Agenda," said Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and Prime Minister Cabi are expected to include:

•  The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between South Africa and Guinea Bissau;

•  The opening of a South African Diplomatic Mission in Guinea Bissau in December 2007 and the role this will play towards the consolidation and expansion of these relations; and

•  Developments in western and southern Africa.

Through the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Facility for Hunger and Poverty Alleviation, South Africa is involved in the development of the agricultural and livestock sectors in Guinea-Bissau.

The project was launched in 2004, as a South-South Co-operation project meant to assist in the upliftment of the Bissau-Guinean society. It is administered by the United Nations Development Programme.

The purpose of the IBSA Fund is to implement duplicable, phased projects in needy developing countries. In Guinea-Bissau, the project aims to achieve the following results:

•  Reduction of the country's rice deficit

•  Improvement and diversification of horticulture

•  Improvement of short-cycle livestock production and

• Promotion and development of small and medium scale agro-industry

While in South Africa, Prime Minister Cabi will participate in a South Africa - Guinea Bissau Business Forum hosted by Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mphahlwa.

"The South African business sector can play a crucial part in the development of the processing capacity of Guinea-Bissau in the area of cashew nuts and fish," the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The country has an abundant supply of unexploited natural resources such as bauxite, phosphates, unexplored crude oil, fresh water and highly fertile soil suitable for agricultural activity.

There are also opportunities in the banking sector, electricity generation and the development of infrastructure such as roads, ports and bridges.

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