President Zuma to host Chilean President

Friday, August 8, 2014

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will this morning host Chilean President Dr Michelle Bachelet Jeria who is on a state visit, says the Presidency.

“The state visit takes place within the context of promoting the already sound bilateral and economic relations between the two countries. South Africa and Chile enjoy cordial bilateral relations,” Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

The Presidency said the South Africa-Chile Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM), established in 1998, continues to serve a constructive purpose in the on-going political dialogue between the two countries at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

South Africa is Chile's largest trading partner in Africa, making South Africa one of the largest foreign investors in the Chilean mining sector.

South African companies regularly participate in large international mining exhibitions that take place in Chile (EXPOMIN, EXPONOR and Electra Mining Exhibition).

The top exports from South Africa are steel and steel products which amount to 61.6% of total exports.

Although South Africa is a modest market for Chilean exports, South Africa remains by far Chile's largest African trading partner with 37% of Chilean exports to Africa destined for South Africa.

A Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a Joint Bilateral Trade and Investment Commission was signed in July 2012 between the two countries that assist in the equalisation of trade balances between South Africa and Chile.

Today President Zuma will have a tête-à-tête with President Bachelet at the Union Buildings in Pretoria followed by official talks between the two.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will then pay a courtesy visit to President Bachelet at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria.

Whilst in South Africa, President Bachelet, will amongst others, deliver a key-note address at the 12th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Cape Town, on Saturday.

Prior to her election as President, President Bachelet was the immediate predecessor of former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as Head of the United Nations Entity for the Empowerment of Women and Gender Equality (UN Women). – SAnews.gov.za