By   HUGO ODIOGOR & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE
South Africa’s Con sul-General, Mokgethi Monaisa, has called on  Nigeria  to explore opportunities created by the volume of trade and investment that keeps rising between Nigeria and South Africa.

In his words: “There exists opportunities which could be of benefit to both our countries, that remain under-exploited; and that need to be explored, especially in the areas of trade and investment, as well as in the area of exchange of technical expertise.”

Speaking during the Freedom Day Celebration, Lagos, Monaisa noted that the relations between South Africa and Nigeria endorses the evident need for both countries to foster closer economic co-operation, and to that effect, a need for improved trade relations.

Monaisa said that South Africa is also committed to enhancing and strengthening cooperation between the business communities of the two countries so as to achieve increased trade and investment, adding that Nigeria has a positive balance of trade with South Africa.

“In this regard, rather than exporting raw materials alone, Nigeria needs to begin the exportation of finished products to South Africa as well. In 2011, South Africa exports to Nigeria topped $747 million, while Nigeria exports to South Africa were $3 billion. The figures for January 2012 were $29.2 million and $226 million respectively” he added.

The South Africa’s ambassador to Gabon (Monaisa) urged both countries to work towards the relief of the heavy debt burden, which continue to deny many Africa countries the opportunity to construct a sustainable future.

He pointed out that the idea of partnerships in the field of technical expertise has always been at the forefront of South Africa’s policies on a broad spectrum of issues, stressing that South Africa’s Government stands to explore more areas of cooperation with the Nigerian Government to achieve a lot.

“I am truly delighted that both countries interact in all different levels including people-to-people contacts through cultural, scientific and educational programmes and tourism” Monaisa said, urging both countries to allow the African Renaissance to take root and grow. Expressing condolences for the lives lost in recent bombings in the North, South Africa’s ambassador to Gabon said that the people of South Africa regret the devastation endured in the aftermath of the bombings in the country.

He further noted that during the apartheid era in South Africa, Nigeria was one of the foremost supporters of Black South African liberation movements, including the African National Congress.

“Today in Africa and elsewhere in the world, people continue to die in conflict-ridden situations. They also face threats from poverty, deadly infectious disease and environmental degradation, since these too do unleash equally catastrophic consequences. Honestly, this does not augur well for the future. Peace is an urgent necessity” Monaisa said