Americas

1
Strategic Plan - March 2004

• Americas
• __________
• The Americas are divided into the developed North
  and the developing South.
• SA maintains good relations with both North and
  South America
• Current SA representation is16 Missions
• North America
• Region of importance to SA
• Canada has pledged strong support for NEPAD, both
  bilaterally and within the G-8
• To align the US Millenium challenge account with
  NEPAD objectives
• Active bilateral engagement with US and Canada
  critical for
• Increased Official Development Assistance (ODA)
  for capacity building
• Market access
• Foreign Direct Investment (to SA and Africa)
• Wider debt relief for Least Developed Countries

2
Strategic Plan - March 2004

• Americas
• __________
• Priority with regard to North America
• Redouble efforts to increase SA exports and
  improve Africas market access to North America.
  In this regard, branding of SA - critical
• Facilitate beneficial outcome of comprehensive
  Free Trade Agreement negotiations between
  Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the USA
• South America
• Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are
  of strategic importance to SA in terms of, inter
  alia, closer South-South co-operation and
  unexplored markets
• MERCOSUR
• Relationship with the MERCOSUR countries -
  greatly improved. SA attended MERCOSUR Summit at
  the invitation of Brazil
• Negotiations are underway to conclude the
  MERCOSUR/SACU-FTA
• Brazil Africa relations growing with the
  establishment of Africa Brazil Forum
• Brazil key signatory of IBSA Dialogue Forum

3
Strategic Plan - March 2004

• Americas
• __________
• CARICOM
• SA government has increased its focus on
  strengthening relations with the Caribbean region
• President Mbeki met with Caribbean leaders during
  CARICOM Summit
• Efforts are underway to establish a CARICOM
  Office in SA
• SA offering assistance to Haiti
• SA currently negotiating bilateral co-operation
  agreement with Jamaica
• Bilateral Co-operation Agreement with the Bahamas
  - concluded in April 2004