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Switzerland and SA cement trade ties |
Strengthening bilateral trade ties was high on the agenda when International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim yesterday co-chaired the 2nd South Africa-Switzerland Annual Consultations with the State Secretary of the Confederation of Switzerland, Michael Ambühl.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between South Africa and Switzerland in May 2008. A proposed Visa Agreement discussed yesterday is expected to deepen relations between the two countries. South Africa has proposed a draft agreement to reciprocally waiver visa requirements for diplomatic and official passports. The agreement is still to be signed. During the 2008/2009 financial year, South Africa’s exports to Switzerland peaked at around R15.4 billion, whereas Swiss imports to South Africa were recorded at around R 6.19 billion, with total trade at around R21 to 22 billion, according to statistics quoted by BuaNews.
Swiss products imported to South Africa include chemicals, vehicles, aircraft and mechanical appliances. South African products exported to Switzerland include minerals, wood pulp, ammunition, precious and semi precious metals, prepared foodstuffs and beverages. Source. |
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