Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma, who is currently in Kenya for the inauguration of President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, will next week undertake a diplomatic blitz to Algeria and Nigeria.
Both countries have the potential to be become South Africa’s major partners, given their endowment in natural and mineral resources.
President Zuma will lead a South African delegation on a working visit to Algeria from Sunday and Monday.
Zuma will hold talks with his Algerian counterpart, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, where the Sixth Session of the Bi-National Commission of Cooperation (BNC) in South Africa and the preceding BNC Ministerial Mid-Term Review to evaluate the status of bilateral relations, will be high on the agenda.
The BNC’s work is centred on people-to-people relations, defence, safety and security, trade, energy and infrastructure, among others.
Addressing the media on current international developments, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said regional developments would also feature prominently in the consultations with President Bouteflika.
“South Africa and Algeria share common positions on key African and regional issues, including the resolution of the Mali conflict through dialogue, and the combating of terrorism and organised crime in the broader Sahel region, as well as on the decolonization of the Western Sahara,” said Ebrahim.
From Tuesday, 16 April, President Zuma and his delegation will proceed to Nigeria where he will hold talks with his Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The official discussions will primarily focus on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries. Attention will also be given to regional, continental and multilateral issues,” said Ebrahim.
The deputy minister said a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during the state visit.
Nigeria represents a significant export market for South African goods in West Africa.
The trade surplus - in favour of Nigeria - can be attributed to a high demand for energy resources in South Africa, as 98% of the country's imports from Nigeria are composed of crude oil.
Since 1999, there has been an increase in the number of South African multinationals operating in the Nigeria market, with over 100 South African companies currently doing business in Nigeria.
President Jonathan is also due to visit pay a state visit to South Africa from 6-7 May 2013. This will be President Jonathan’s first visit to South Africa after he won the Presidential elections in 2011.
Meanwhile, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says they are in a process of disseminating information on the Registration of South Africans Abroad (ROSA).
The drive to popularise ROSA will allow DIRCO to assist South Africans in the event of an emergency.
“Vast numbers of South African citizens who travel abroad every day do not encounter any difficulties. However, through our Diplomatic Mission abroad, we have assisted a growing number of South Africans who have become victims of crime, accidents, illness, death, natural/manmade disasters, civil unrest, or whose family and/or next-of-kin needed to contact them in an emergency,” Ebrahim said.
The registration is a free, voluntary service provided by government, through DIRCO and is available to South African citizens who are travelling, living, working or studying abroad. – SAnews.gov.za
