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South Africa: Country, Mozambique to Solidify Relations
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Bathandwa Mbola
Maputo
South Africa and Mozambique will on Thursday further solidify relations between the two countries, as President Thabo Mbeki holds discussions with his counterpart Armando Guebuza in Maputo.
"President Mbeki will hold discussions with President Guebuza within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate relations with Mozambique with a view to strengthening relations with countries of the region," said the Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The two presidents are expected to discuss, among others, the status of relations between the two countries, regional developments and matters of international interest.
In October 2007 President Mbeki hosted President Guebuza in Pretoria for the South Africa - Mozambique Heads of State Economic Bilateral Commission which aimed to strengthen economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries.
The issues of mutual benefit that were discussed at the meeting included those pertaining to the economic cooperation; tourism and environment issues; Finance; Customs administration and border matters; Minerals and energy and Transport and communication.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the parties to make inroads on a number of areas and to move closer to signing agreements in those areas.
Regarding tourism and environment discussions, the meeting looked at how the two countries should prepare themselves to benefit from the opportunities that would be created by the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, to be held in South Africa.
It discussed and signed agreements on finance and the avoidance of double taxation; and on the of the establishment of One-Stop-Border Posts, which will first be implemented at the Lubombo Border Post between the two countries.
Mozambique remains South Africa's second largest export market in Southern Africa. Total exports by South Africa to Mozambique amounted to over R6.2 billion in 2006. Imports from Mozambique were valued at close to R318 590 million for the same year.
The Industrial Development Corporation has been utilised by South Africa as the primary catalyst for South African investment in Mozambique.
To date, the IDC has approved funding for 10 projects geographically spread throughout Mozambique and is currently investigating six additional projects in the country.
These projects will include sectors such as mining and mineral beneficiation, agriculture, tourism, chemicals, forestry, transport infrastructure and energy.
The Mozal Aluminium Smelter remains the IDC's largest investment outside the borders of South Africa. Another major project funded by the ICD is the titanium-bearing mineral sands in southern Mozambique worth an estimated $600 million.
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Other major investments of South African origin in Mozambique is the Sasol Gas Pipeline Project worth $1.4 billion, SABMiller's $50 million investment in beer factories in Maputo and Beira, and a $63 million investment by Illovo Sugar in Maragra sugar mill.
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