Berne - Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has concluded her five-day visit to Switzerland by opening a trade investment road show.

The road show was organised by the South African Embassy in that country with the theme, “Business Opportunities in South Africa,” in Zug.

Minister Dlamini-Zuma visited Switzerland within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen relations with countries of the North, and also to consolidate the African developmental agenda.

During the high-level visit she held discussions with the Swiss President Pascal Couchepin and the Foreign Minister of the Swiss Federation Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Both the ministers reiterated their commitment to consolidating and strengthening bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.

This follows Switzerland calling South Africa its most strategic partner outside the European Union in May 2005.

The pair also agreed to maintain trilateral cooperation in third African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

They are to consider other countries in which trilateral cooperation projects can be implemented.

On conclusion of their discussions, Ms Dlamini-Zuma and Mr Calmy-Rey, co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Mutual Cooperation through a Joint Working Group.

As part of commemorating International Women’s Day on Saturday, the ministers attended a film festival in Geneva which profiled and highlighted woman’s issues.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma also met with the former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the High Commissioner of the Geneva based Human Rights Council Louise Arbour.

She is scheduled to arrive back in South Africa on Tuesday. – BuaNews