SA, Italy forge closer ties
22 January 2003
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Italy received a boost on Wednesday when Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad and his Italian counterpart, Senator Alfredo Mantica, signed a memorandum of understanding in the Italian capital, Rome.
The agreement paves the way for a permanent and regular exchange of views on international and mutual matters between the two governments.
Top government officials from Pretoria and Rome will exchange views on international issues such as the standoff in Iraq and the ongoing confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East, as well as common issues around trade and investment.
"This agreement is intended to establish a permanent mechanism to exchange views on international affairs and bilateral matters and will facilitate consultations including regular, structured meetings and/or ad hoc meetings at ministerial and senior official level," the Department of Foreign
Affairs said in a statement.
Italy is among South Africa’s top 10 economic partners in trade and investment as well as being an important source of tourism, with scores of Italians spending significant amounts of time and money on holidays in the country.
It is estimated that trade between the two countries is worth more than R19-billion a year, with South African exports to Italy amounting to R14.3-billion, while exports from Italy to South Africa stand at R5.3-billion.
Pahad, who is in Italy on an official trip to consolidate relations between Pretoria, Rome and other European capitals, also met with Mr A Michelini, Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi’s personal representative for Africa’s socio-economic recovery plan, Nepad.
Pahad was due to travel to Belgium on Thursday to meet with that country's foreign minister, Louis Michel, to discuss developments regarding the peace process in the Great Lakes region, the Middle East and Iraq.
Source: BuaNews
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