Discussions between Ebrahim and Bellingham are expected to include climate change and international institutional reform, among others.

This is Bellingham’s first official visit to South Africa, since his appointment as the Minister for Africa on 14 May 2010.

Britain is one of South Africa's major foreign trading partners and remains one of the top two largest foreign investors in the country.

There are over 200 South African companies that have established a presence in the UK.

Total trade between the UK and South Africa increased by 173 percent between 1998 and 2008, from R25.492 billion to R69.630 billion. 

In 2009, the UK was South Africa’s fifth export partner in the world (after China, the US, Japan and Germany), with exports valued at R25.350 billion and imports from the UK at R21.596 billion.

South Africa’s biggest imports from the UK are turbo jets, turbo propellers, gas turbines, machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, vehicles (including aircraft and vessels), chemicals and allied products.

Exports to Britain are dominated by natural and precious stones, mineral products, vehicles (including vessels), machinery and mechanical products, fruit and vegetable products, base metals and articles, prepared foodstuffs and beverages, which cumulatively account for 90 percent of SA’s exports to Britain. - BuaNews