Speech by President Mandela on the occasion of the opening of the 2nd Afro-Arab Trade Fair
South African History Online 
Speech by President Mandela on the occasion of the opening of the 2nd
Afro-Arab Trade Fair
Johannesburg, 9 October 1995
Honourable Ministers;
Premier of Gauteng Province;
Visiting Cabinet
Ministers;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Since May last year, many events have taken place in our country, confirming
that South Africa is, at last, a full member of the world community of
nations.
Few of these events bear as directly on our cause of reconstruction and
development as does this trade fair: for it is an engagement among countries
from which we gain not only in trade and investment, but also in invaluable
developmental experience.
South Africa is therefore proud and indeed honoured to host this, the Second
Afro-Arab Trade Fair. For us, it is critical to take full part with our
brothers, sisters and partners in the Organisation of African Unity and the Arab
League in the efforts to promote interaction within the African continent and
with the Arab World.
Our vision extends the Africa as a whole. A prosperous SADC region and strong
region-to-region economic linkages will give life to the vision, captured in the
Abuja Declaration, of a united and integrated African Continent.
The Arab world is indeed an integral part of Africa, and was centuries-old
trade and cultural linkages extending to the Eastern and Southern part of the
Continent. Two years ago, in Tunisia, our governments and business enterprises
began process of building on those ties with the First Afro-Arab Trade Fair. And
now the 2nd Afro-Arab Trade Fair challenges us to take further meaningful
strides towards multilateral co-operation.
We also welcome the participation and commitment of UN agencies on this
occasion.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
A Trade Fair of this magnitude, bringing together partners in development, is
critical for all our countries. It contains within it the seed to fully tap the
potential of regions endowed with many valuable resources, with a market of
close on a billion people, and with nations that represent a rich variety of
culture and which are determined to make their mark on the world stage.
But this is more than a trade fair.
The country pavilions, side-by-side with private companies, reflect the
partnership of business and government, and a high level of political support
for the common objective of advancing economic co-operation.
The Fair is designed to give participating countries and visitors the
opportunity to be actively involved not only in business but also in development
co-operation and cultural exchanges.
This is more than a trade fair, above all, because it helps to pose qu to
examine how the funds availabin productive investments for the benefit of our
peoples. This is a challenge to business, as it is to governments, to ensure
thate engage in ventures that will cte jobs and see to socio-economic
development and prosperity in all our countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
South Africa's acceptance by the world has indeed opened a new era for our
people and the business community in particular.
Just as many countries in Africa and the Arab World have been discovering
what South African suppliers have to offer, South Africans are looking keenly at
what can be sourced from our African and Arab partners.
In 1994 alone, South Africa's exports to African and Arab countries grew by
26% to R9,6 billion, whilst our imports from these countries showed a notable
increase of 47% to reach the figure of R2,5 billion. These rapid increases
reflect the immense potential for both trade and investment among all our
nations.
And so, following on the success of the First Afro-Arab Trade Fair at the
northern-most tip of the continent, African and Arab nations come together
again, this time at its southern-most part.
As a community of nations we mean business. We have much to offer each other
in our common endeavour to make a better life for our peoples. And we bring to
the world a wealth of human and natural resources fits to each of our countries
an warm welcome, and wish you a pleasant time in our country.
I thank you.
