Published Saturday, 24 March, 2007 at 05:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
PREMIER BEATTIE MEETS SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT MBEKI
Queensland Premier and Minister for Trade Peter Beattie held talks today with South African President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki on ways to strengthen economic and trade links between Queensland and South Africa.
Mr Beattie, who is leading a large Queensland trade delegation to South Africa, said his meeting focused on ways to boost trade and investment opportunities between Queensland and South Africa.
President Mbeki invited Mr Beattie to visit South Africa when he was in Queensland in 2002 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
“It was an honour to meet President Mbeki again and to congratulate him on the accomplishments of South Africa during the country’s second decade of freedom,” Mr Beattie said.
“I admire Mr Mbeki and the role he played in the struggle to end apartheid, and I admire him for the leadership and statesmanship he has shown in building the new South Africa.
“It is well documented that as a young student I was arrested during the anti-apartheid protests against the Springboks rugby tour in 1971. It is a humbling and gratifying experience to come to South Africa and meet one of architects of the new multi-racial South Africa, a country of great promise, where men and women are now judged on ability and character, rather than race.
“Queensland and South Africa have a lot in common so there are a lot of shared interests we can build upon,” Mr Beattie said.
“Both of our economies are based on major mining and agriculture exports but we are also both embracing a more diversified, knowledge-intensive export base.”
Premier Beattie said cultural and business links between Queensland and South Africa had steadily increased in recent years and there were clear signs that Queensland business was looking to South Africa as a base for the State’s trade and investment ambitions throughout Africa.
“South African firms are similarly looking increasingly towards Queensland, to directly invest in Queensland and to support their interests in the broader Asia Pacific region,” Mr Beattie said.
In the last financial year, Queensland imported $288 million worth of goods from South Africa, mostly road vehicles and fertiliser. And in the 10 years to 2005-2006, Queensland’s goods exports to South Africa grew by a massive 838 per cent from $33.1 million to $310.6 million,” Mr Beattie said.
“Coal is our chief export to South Africa, with significant growth in other exports including industrial machinery and equipment, petroleum and medicinal and pharmaceutical products.”
Mr Beattie said the relationship between Queensland and South Africa was enhanced by the increasing number of Queensland companies opening offices there and the fact that South African companies were beginning to invest in Queensland.
He cited the example of the world-renowned Queensland software company Mincom which has established an office in Johannesburg and named Anglo America and Harmony Gold as two South African firms that have invested in Queensland mining and energy.
Mr Beattie told President Mbeki the Queensland Government was committed to extending and broadening the Queensland-South Africa relationship, through stronger trade and investment, research and people to people links.
Media Contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500, 0400 767 490
Mr Beattie, who is leading a large Queensland trade delegation to South Africa, said his meeting focused on ways to boost trade and investment opportunities between Queensland and South Africa.
President Mbeki invited Mr Beattie to visit South Africa when he was in Queensland in 2002 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
“It was an honour to meet President Mbeki again and to congratulate him on the accomplishments of South Africa during the country’s second decade of freedom,” Mr Beattie said.
“I admire Mr Mbeki and the role he played in the struggle to end apartheid, and I admire him for the leadership and statesmanship he has shown in building the new South Africa.
“It is well documented that as a young student I was arrested during the anti-apartheid protests against the Springboks rugby tour in 1971. It is a humbling and gratifying experience to come to South Africa and meet one of architects of the new multi-racial South Africa, a country of great promise, where men and women are now judged on ability and character, rather than race.
“Queensland and South Africa have a lot in common so there are a lot of shared interests we can build upon,” Mr Beattie said.
“Both of our economies are based on major mining and agriculture exports but we are also both embracing a more diversified, knowledge-intensive export base.”
Premier Beattie said cultural and business links between Queensland and South Africa had steadily increased in recent years and there were clear signs that Queensland business was looking to South Africa as a base for the State’s trade and investment ambitions throughout Africa.
“South African firms are similarly looking increasingly towards Queensland, to directly invest in Queensland and to support their interests in the broader Asia Pacific region,” Mr Beattie said.
In the last financial year, Queensland imported $288 million worth of goods from South Africa, mostly road vehicles and fertiliser. And in the 10 years to 2005-2006, Queensland’s goods exports to South Africa grew by a massive 838 per cent from $33.1 million to $310.6 million,” Mr Beattie said.
“Coal is our chief export to South Africa, with significant growth in other exports including industrial machinery and equipment, petroleum and medicinal and pharmaceutical products.”
Mr Beattie said the relationship between Queensland and South Africa was enhanced by the increasing number of Queensland companies opening offices there and the fact that South African companies were beginning to invest in Queensland.
He cited the example of the world-renowned Queensland software company Mincom which has established an office in Johannesburg and named Anglo America and Harmony Gold as two South African firms that have invested in Queensland mining and energy.
Mr Beattie told President Mbeki the Queensland Government was committed to extending and broadening the Queensland-South Africa relationship, through stronger trade and investment, research and people to people links.
Media Contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500, 0400 767 490