Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma's state visit to Norway
has boosted relations between the two countries, the International Marketing
Council said on Tuesday.
It said three agreements have been signed between local
organisations and Norwegian business.
More than 100 Norwegian business leaders and 50 of their
South African counterparts discussed potential cooperation and joint ventures
during the visit last week. These included an agreement between Stellenbosch
University and Norwegian company Storvik Biofloc to work together in setting up
a pilot tilapia fish farm.
The project would contribute to food security and create
jobs, said Stellenbosch University vice-chancellor Professor Russell Bothma.
The Royal Bafokeng signed a memorandum of understanding with
Norwegian company Veritas to develop Saldanha Bay's oil and gas services and
oil pollution control.
Local company Lwandle Technologies and Norway's Miros AS
signed an agreement for an ocean surveillance joint venture planned for South
Africa's West Coast, the council said.
South Africa's two-way trade with Norway increased from R963m in 2006 to more than R3bn in 2010, driven by a major increase in South
African exports to Norway.
More than 120 Norwegian companies have established an office or a partnership agreement in South Africa since 1994, the council said.