Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will undertake a working visit to Baku, Azerbaijan, to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
The purpose of the two-day working visit, which will start later today, is to hold the first Session of Regular Diplomatic Consultations at Ministerial level, agreed to through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with that country in February 2014, in Pretoria.
The visit will also be an opportunity to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination to Azerbaijan and to the Caspian region at large.
During her visit, the Minister will pay a courtesy call on Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, meet Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, and hold discussions with her Azerbaijan counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mmamadyarov.
The Minister will also visit other institutions to promote inter-institutional and people-to-people co-operation.
Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the most important countries in the world in oil exploration and development.
The expansion of the oil and gas sector has enabled Azerbaijan to record rapid real GDP growth in recent years. Other important sectors are transport, agriculture, construction, services and manufacturing.
Trade between South Africa and Azerbaijan has potential for growth. In 2015, South African exports to Azerbaijan were at approximately R217 million and imports at approximately R4 million.
Trade and investment relations between South Africa and Azerbaijan has the potential to grow beyond the current figures.
Other significant partnerships between South Africa and Azerbaijan will include the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Diplomatic Academy of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and ADA University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. – SAnews.gov.za
