Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will next week host French President François Hollande, who will be in the country for a two-day state visit.
The visit will deepen bilateral political and economic relations with France; strengthen North-South cooperation as well as further the African Agenda.
This is Hollande’s first visit to South Africa as Socialist Party Leader and President of France, and he is expected to sign a number of agreements and continue the good relations between France and South Africa.
France is South Africa's third largest trading and investment partner in the European Union.
Cooperation between the two countries cuts across a broad spectrum of areas.
There is also on-going and deepening collaboration in areas such as defence, development cooperation, science and technology, arts and culture, energy and agriculture, which are coordinated through the annual Forum for Political Dialogue (FPD), co-chaired by the respective Directors-General of International Relations and Cooperation.
In the last eight years, French companies have invested more than R15 billion in the country, creating significant job opportunities.
The highlight of the visit, according to the Presidency, will be the South Africa-France Business Forum that will afford the respective business communities an opportunity to take advantage of the growing bilateral economic relations and to explore further opportunities.
During President Zuma’s state visit to France in March 2011, the New Framework Partnership Agreement 2011–2013 was signed to the value of R10 billion that comprises loans and aid. - SAnews.gov.za
