Pretoria - Bilateral relations between South Africa and Canada will be under the spotlight on Tuesday, when President Jacob Zuma hosts the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, for a state visit.
This will be Johnston’s first visit to South Africa, which forms part of his tour of Africa, including stops in Ghana and Botswana.
The purpose of the state visit, according to the Presidency, “is to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries”.
South Africa remains Canada’s second largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.
There has been an exponential growth in trade, with figures doubling between 2000 and 2007.
However, annual two-way trade between South Africa and Canada declined by almost 20 percent in the latter part of 2007 due to global pressures from the international financial crisis.
The ensuing global economic crisis continued to seriously affect South Africa’s trade with Canada, resulting in a decline throughout 2008-2009. Exports to Canada in 2010-2011 stabilised to around R5 billion, while Canadian exports to South Africa declined to R3 billion.
About two thirds of South African exports to Canada relate to minerals and mining equipment, with agricultural and chemical products making up the rest. Canada views South Africa as a gateway into the Southern African Development Community and the rest of Africa.
Canada has provided development assistance to South Africa since 1979. More than $200 million in Canadian support has been contributed through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) since 1979, and annual spending has averaged about $14 million.
Canada’s involvement in South Africa focuses on the strengthening of service delivery, HIV and Aids and rural development, among others. – SAnews.gov.za
