Welcome to the benches of the opposition! [Laughter.]
Hon Speaker, the expansion of foreign trade is a means to an end, which is to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. It must enable us to grow our economy, encourage market access and contribute to the creation of decent work, improved health care and education, rural development, safer communities, social security and other priorities of this government.
Business representatives are invited to state visits to encourage and promote economic co-operation between South Africa and particular countries. The Department of Trade and Industry constitutes the business delegation in consultation with organised business, Business Unity South Africa, Busa.
However, other businesspeople also use the opportunity of the state visit to travel to those countries, or their visits coincide with the state visit. The decision to participate in a visit lies with the businesses themselves, depending on their interests.
However, we also have to look at South Africa's national interests, in particular what would benefit her people and advance government's domestic agenda. Visits of this nature create investment opportunities, which have a positive impact on the South African economy.
The Southern African Development Community, SADC, member states, most whose economies are integrated with that of South Africa, are our country's major trading partners. African countries in general have a huge potential to become South Africa's major trading partners, given their endowment in natural, mineral and human resources.
To date, in Africa, we have undertaken outgoing state visits to Angola, Lesotho, Zambia and Uganda. Outside the continent we have undertaken state and official visits to the United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, India and China. Time does not permit us to provide extensive details on these visits. We will provide highlights.
On the visit to Angola we were accompanied by 11 Ministers and a business delegation of more than 170 people. Sectors represented included mining, energy, electricity, construction, retail, communications, transport and agribusiness.
A number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries were signed. There are already immediate benefits such as an agreement between the two governments on the South African and Angolan housing initiative to build human settlements in nine provinces in Angola.
On the visit to Zambia in December last year, I was accompanied by seven Ministers, two Deputy Ministers and a business delegation. In that highly successful visit, two agreements and four Memoranda of Understanding were signed and we will continue to explore the great potential in economic relations.
Last month I visited the Kingdom of Lesotho accompanied by seven Ministers, one Deputy Minister as well as a business delegation. [Interjections.]
Lesotho is an important neighbour of South Africa, as evidenced by the Lesotho Highlands Water Project that supplies water to South Africa. South Africa is currently finalising the modalities of Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which is expected to increase the supply of water to South Africa.
I visited Uganda with seven Ministers and more than 50 businesspersons. A number of South African companies have a presence in Uganda and rely on South African expertise and products in growing their market, thus increasing employment opportunities in both South Africa and Uganda. Uganda also has a promising oil and mining industry, which is of interest to the South African industry.
European countries identified as key trading partners include, among other countries, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation.
I was accompanied by 11 Ministers and over 150 businesspeople on the important visit to the Russian Federation. The business delegation represented the sectors of banking, education, agriculture, health, energy, mineral resources, water and environment, and science and technology.
Over the long term, several benefits in tourism, education and skills development, science and technology, space engineering, minerals and energy, to name a few, will result from this visit. [Interjections.]
Information on the highly successful United Kingdom state visit has been presented in this House previously. When you ask the question you get the answer! [Laughter.]
We visited China last month - South Africa's largest trading partner and a substantial investor in the country. The signing of the Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was the beginning of a new chapter in the bilateral relations between the two countries. A number of agreements were signed and collaboration in several areas was finalised which will contribute to ensuring a balance of trade.
The two countries will encourage companies from each side to explore co- operation opportunities in mineral beneficiation as well as infrastructure construction projects such as the green economy, roads, railways, ports, power generation, airports and housing.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and all the countries of the Americas and Caribbean have been identified as high potential strategic trading partners.
In the Americas we visited Brazil in October 2009. The President of Brazil undertook a reciprocal visit in July this year. For the state visit to Brazil the criteria included those companies with a presence in Brazil, those in a trading relationship with Brazil and those with an interest in establishing a future presence in Brazil.
The interaction with Brazil and India is a further step to strengthening relations with the India, Brazil and South Africa initiative and the promotion of relations with the South.
For the state visit to India we were accompanied by six Ministers, one Deputy Minister and more than 270 businesspeople. The visit also saw the relaunch of the India-South Africa CEO forum. The forum met in South Africa last week, taking the strengthening of economic relations forward.
Canada and the United States are key and strategic trading partners of South Africa. However, I have not as yet undertaken a visit of this nature to that region. Japan is also a strong trade and investment partner with whom we want to work further to expand trade relations.
We prefer to view the expenditure of these visits not as costs, but as investments in building relations that will help us meet our political, social and economic goals.
As the hon member is also aware, for outgoing visits, host countries extend the normal courtesies to the visiting delegations as per standard international practice.
We estimate the investment in the Angola state visit to have been in the region of more than R3 million, Zambia at more than R200 000 and Lesotho at more than half a million rands. We have invested more than a R1 million in the Ugandan visit. Information pertaining to the expenditure on the visits to China, Russia and India is not yet available.