SA, Senegal to improve trade relations

(Image: GCIS)

Zuma will hold this discussion with his counterpart President Macky Sall, where they will exchange views on critical regional and global issues.

The state visit is preceded by the second session of the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) and the Ministerial Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which is scheduled for this morning. It will be co-chaired by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

Trade between Pretoria and West Africa's political and economic powerhouse stands at just over R830m, with Senegalese exports to SA totalling R12m.

"The visit will afford President Zuma and his delegation an opportunity to engage with the Senegalese government on specific areas of interest between the two countries. These areas include security, arts and culture, trade and economic development, energy, environment, mining and mineral beneficiation, agriculture, water purification and employment," said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, on Monday.

Monyela said South Africa and Senegal shared the same view that trade proposals should be specific in order to inform business delegations and facilitate their business deals.

Currently, South Africa is assisting Senegal in the field of electricity production through the Eskom Energie Manantali hydro-electric project, which supplies power to Senegal, Mali and Mauritania.

Zuma is accompanied on the visit by the Ministers of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson; Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba; Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile; Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Hlengiwe Mkhize.

The presidential delegation will also include South African business persons, who will attend the South Africa-Senegal Business Forum in Dakar, with a view to promote and expand trade and investment between South Africa and Senegal.

The visit will see the signing of an agreement on arts and culture as well as agriculture.