Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is in Luanda‚ Angola, on a working visit where he will meet his counterpart President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
“The Heads of State will discuss issues of bilateral and regional importance and the visit will contribute to further strengthening the historical relations between the two countries,” the Presidency said on Sunday.
Angola, richly endowed with resources including oil, diamonds and other minerals, is a strategic partner with enormous economic potential.
Since 2009, there has been an increase in trade cooperation between South Africa and Angola.
Thirty-three agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed over the years covering various fields, including agriculture, health, education, trade and industry, defence and security, transport, energy, as well as arts and culture.
Between 2009 and 2012, two-way trade statistics show Angola as one of South Africa’s largest trading partners on the continent. Angola is currently ranked 8th, with R22.5 billion of imports largely comprising crude petroleum oils. In 2013, the value of exports to Angola was R9.7 billion. In the same year, the value of imports from Angola was R18.9 billion. - SAnews.gov.za
