Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Cairo for a two-day state visit to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Egypt.
The President, accompanied by a number of ministers and businesspeople, is expected to engage Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on a number of issues of mutual concern.
He is expected to discuss the extent to which the mining metals, capital equipment, energy, engineering and ICT, defense and security, as well as agro-processing sectors will form the basis for export and investment promotional activities for South Africa.
These sectors have been identified as the core focus to strengthen business-to-business engagement, and will further develop business interaction by leveraging the platform of the Business Council.
South Africa's commercial capabilities and opportunities will be exposed to Egypt's business community, to promote Egyptian investment into South Africa.
The parties may also agree on commercial projects and plans for implementing such projects, to enhance trade and investment relations between the two countries.
Over and above strengthening bilateral cooperation in arts and culture, tourism, science and technology, and economic cooperation, the South African delegation led by Zuma, will also discuss possibilities for oil exploration by PetroSA.
The President is accompanied by his wife, Sizakele Zuma, and the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Arts and Culture Lulu Xingwana, Communications Siphiwe Nyanda, Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile, Energy Dipuo Peters and Agriculture and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Petersson.
He is also joined by the Deputy Ministers of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias and Tourism, Thozile Xasa.
The President and his delegation are expected to conclude the visit tomorrow afternoon.
