Mandela to visit Saudi Arabia

South African President Nelson Mandela will be visiting Saudi Arabia in November, according to Cassem Peer, the South African consulate general in Jeddah. He said that Nelson Mandela will arrive on November 13 accompanied by senior ministers and leading businessmen. He will meet King Fahd, ministers and businessmen.

Peer said that the full schedule is being worked out and explained that the presence of leading South African businessmen in the presidential delegation shows the importance of developing bilateral relations in trade, business, commerce, investments and other sectors.

Peer said that South Africa's imports from Saudi Arabia have been increasing dramatically. The figures jumped from 8 million US dollars in 1994 to 167 million US dollars in 1995 and 207 millions US dollar last year, mainly because of oil.

Exports to Saudi Arabia also grew in the same period, from 47 million US dollars in 1994 to 72 million US dollars in 1995, and 95 million US dollars last year.