President Jacob Zuma

International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will set off for Brazil on Tuesday to prepare for President Jacob Zuma’s state visit later in the week, the department said.

Zuma’s visit on Thursday and Friday is intended to consolidate the co-operation that has evolved between the two countries over the past 10 years.

The department explained that both countries share a strong political and economic relationship and have in common the difficulties of unemployment, unequal distribution of income and sluggish economic growth.

Since November 2005, missions between the two countries have represented the mining, wine, information and telecommunications, auto, capital equipment and arts and crafts sectors.

In 2008 total trade between Brazil and South Africa reached $2,52-billion from $2,2-billion in 2007.

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