SA hosts Bulgarian delegation
Thabo Mokgola
30 November 2004
Political, economic and trade issues will be high on the agenda when Deputy President Jacob Zuma hosts his Bulgarian counterpart Vice President Angel Marin in Pretoria on Thursday.
Marin, who will be on a three-day official visit to the country, will be accompanied by Svetla Toshkova, the Chief of the Cabinet of the Vice President, Nikola Karadimov, the Foreign Policy Secretary of the President of Bulgaria, Oleg Hinkov, Deputy Minister of Health, and Borislav Abdjiev, Deputy Minister of Culture.
Zuma and Marin will lead the political consultations between the two delegations on Thursday, where they will discuss issues relating to the strengthening of South Africa's political, economic and trade relations with Bulgaria.
The two leaders will also exchange views on international and regional issues affecting the two countries, among these being the operationalisation of the African Union and the implementation of NEPAD; developments within
the European Union with particular reference to expansion of the EU and Bulgaria's progress in negotiations with the EU on full membership; and other matters relating to multilateral organisations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation.
It is expected that the two delegations will sign a number of agreements. A Trade Agreement was concluded in 2000 and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in 2004. Agreements on Law-enforcement, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology; Sport and Recreation and Health Care are currently being finalised.
After the meetings in Pretoria Marin will visit Cape Town where he will meet with the Premier of the Western Cape, Ebrahim Rassool. The Mayor of Cape Town, NomaIndia Mfeketo, will host a lunch in honour of Marin, after which he will visit Robben Island.
Trade between the two countries has been improving steadily, with South African exports to Bulgaria amounting to R33.6-million, while importing goods from
that country to the tune of R13.8-million.
Annual growth of trade between the two countries has increased for the period 2003 to 2004. Exports to Bulgaria increased by 8.8 percent and imports from Bulgaria by 7.3 percent.
Leading exports to Bulgaria are sugar, wool, citrus fruit, insecticides, furniture, pump and elevator devices and iron products. The most important imports are ores, carbonates, seeds, tinned fruit and tobacco.
Source: BuaNews
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