Third Session of Pakistan-South Africa Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation

(2013-04-16)

The Third Session of Pakistan-South Africa Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was held on 15-16 April 2013 in Islamabad. Ms. Seema Naqvi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan and Dr. Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General, Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa led their respective delegations.

The agenda of the meeting covered prospective cooperation in Trade, Industry, Engineering, Energy, Agriculture, Health and Education.

The two sides noted with satisfaction that the Joint Business Council would hold its first meeting in September/October, 2013 in Pretoria. They also agreed, in principle, to enhance the bilateral trade volume to over US $ 1 billion by 2015.

In view of the fact that South Africa excels technologically in Mining, prospects of cooperation in Mining Sector were discussed. The Pakistani side also handed over to South African side a MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health Sector.

Dr. Sooklal also called on the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani. Later the two sides led by their respective Co-chairs had a detailed exchange of views on regional and global political issues of mutual interest.

The Joint Commission meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere and reviewed progress on matters of mutual cooperation in various fields.

Islamabad
16 April 2013

096/2013