BuaNews (Tshwane)
Luyanda Makapela
15 December 2008
Pretoria — South African President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Wednesday pay a working visit to Libya where he will discuss bilateral political, economic and trade relations with his Libyan counterpart Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi.
President Motlanthe, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with his Libyan counterpart within the context of strengthening bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.
Accordingly, issues on the agenda of discussions between Presidents Motlanthe and al-Gadhafi are expected to include political and socio-economic developments on the continent including the implementation of the African Union Government, New Partnership for Africa's Development, as well as peace and security initiatives.
Global political and socio-economic initiatives including the financial crisis and the Middle East Peace Process, and other issues of mutual interest will also be discussed.
While in Libya, President Motlanthe will lay a wreath at the El-Hani Battle Martyrs Memorial in Tripoli as well as visit the memorial of the victims of the United States air raid on Tripoli in 1986.
President Motlanthe is scheduled to return to South Africa on Friday.
South Africa and Libya has been involved in trade and investment relations which include many opportunities in the fields of construction; engineering; hydrocarbons; mining and energy; tourism; textiles; agriculture; communications and military cooperation exist.
Eskom has formed a joint venture company, Global Electrical Services Company (GESCO) with the General Electric Company of Libya (GECOL) aimed to assist GECOL with the rehabilitation of Thermal Power Plants and to build capacity within GECOL in the area of plant rehabilitation and maintenance
A bilateral Trade Agreement and an Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment was signed during the first session of the Joint Bi-national Commission in June 2002.
constant, with the trade balance heavily in South Africa's favour. In 2006, South Africa imported over R2.4 billion in Hydrocarbons from Libya.
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