Italian foreign minister visits SA
Matome Sebelebele
29 November 2004
Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad meets with his Italian counterpart, Senator Alfredo Luigi Mantica, in Pretoria on Monday.
Aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations, the talks are expected to cover the G-8 Africa Action Plan, the expansion of the European Union, United Nations reform, terrorism, and conflict resolution and management in Africa.
Officials say the two political principals will kick-start their talks by exchanging views on a variety of bilateral political and economic issues.
The two administrations have "strong relations", with Italy ranking in the top 10 among South Africa's trading partners.
Italy is South Africa's fifth-largest export destination and fourth-largest supplier of imports. According to official statistics, exports from South Africa to Italy amounted to R7-billion in 2003 alone, while exports from Italy to SA totaled R8.4-billion.
South Africa's main exports to Italy are precious
metals, laminated iron and steel, and coal, as well as machines, non-electrical appliances, meat, fish, fruit and fruit juices, leather and wool.
South Africa imports machine tools, auto vehicles and their components, industrial machinery, jewelry and telecommunications equipment from Italy.
Source: BuaNews
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