950820

Malaysia's leaves

for S Africa

today

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will leave on Monday for his first official visit to South Africa.

Mahathir, who will be accompanied by a 250-strong delegation, will witness the signing of several private-sector deals and the transfer of a housing project by Malaysia to South Africa's minister of housing.

He will also speak to business executives in Cape Town and South African members of parliament and meet South African President Nelson Mandela and Deputy Presidents F.W. De Klerk and Thabo Mbeki.

His trip follows the February visit of De Klerk, the most senior government official to visit Malaysia since all-race elections were held in South Africa last year.

Malaysian government officials said South Africa was Malaysia's largest trading partner on the African continent and the potential for economic tie-ups between the two countries is vast.

Malaysia hopes to use South Africa as a window to the other countries of southern Africa, whose combined population of 200 million represents a huge potential market, he said.

Mahathir will make an official visit to Namibia after his departure from Cape Town.-Reuter