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L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...

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– Automotive <strong>and</strong> components<br />

– Capital equipment <strong>and</strong> machinery<br />

– Agro-processing.<br />

In an effort to advance the economic relationship <strong>and</strong> support<br />

cooperation in these areas, Russia <strong>and</strong> RSA aim to strengthen <strong>and</strong><br />

deepen economic linkages through strong business <strong>and</strong> governmental<br />

co-operation between the two countries. In this regard one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

main vehicles used is the Intergovernmental Committee on Trade<br />

<strong>and</strong> Economic Co-operation, known as (ITEC). Participating government<br />

departments include Minerals <strong>and</strong> Energy, Science <strong>and</strong><br />

Technology, Trade <strong>and</strong> Industry, Health, Education, Transport, Agriculture,<br />

Defence <strong>and</strong> Water Affairs. The Committee is chaired by<br />

the Minister <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs on the South <strong>Africa</strong>n side, <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Minister <strong>of</strong> Natural resources from the Russian side. Meetings <strong>of</strong><br />

this committee are held annually <strong>and</strong> interchangeably in the capitals<br />

<strong>of</strong> both countries. Within the trade component the Department <strong>of</strong><br />

Trade <strong>and</strong> Industry participates in the Trade, Investment <strong>and</strong> Banking<br />

subcommittee together with the South <strong>Africa</strong>n Reserve Bank.<br />

In essence the aim <strong>of</strong> the Trade, Investment <strong>and</strong> Banking subcommittee<br />

is to create an environment that would support increased<br />

<strong>and</strong> mutually beneficial trade <strong>and</strong> investment, through facilitating<br />

government <strong>and</strong> business linkages <strong>and</strong> identifying barriers to trade.<br />

During the Fifth Session <strong>of</strong> ITEC, held in October 2005, several important<br />

initiatives were undertaken in an effort to achieve these<br />

goals. Both sides noted the importance <strong>of</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>ing the value <strong>of</strong><br />

trade as well as the range <strong>of</strong> traded products. In support <strong>of</strong> this, the<br />

two sides agreed to encourage the exchange <strong>of</strong> business delegations<br />

with the purpose <strong>of</strong> holding trade <strong>and</strong> investment fairs in both countries.<br />

More specifically, South <strong>Africa</strong> undertook to lead a business<br />

delegation <strong>and</strong> hold a trade <strong>and</strong> investment fair in Russia in 2006 as<br />

a way <strong>of</strong> raising the pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> South <strong>Africa</strong>-Russia business interactions.<br />

The focus <strong>of</strong> the fair will be to promote trade <strong>and</strong> investment<br />

co-operation in value added manufacturing <strong>and</strong> services sectors. 43<br />

The Department <strong>of</strong> Trade <strong>and</strong> Industry <strong>of</strong> the Republic <strong>of</strong> South<br />

<strong>Africa</strong> <strong>and</strong> its Russian counterpart further agreed to develop a program<br />

<strong>of</strong> co-operation in the automotive sector in an effort to enhance<br />

195

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