The Ambassador in Vienna is accredited to Austria on a resident basis while he is accredited on a non-resident basis to the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia. South Africa has an Honorary Consul based in Bratislava as well as an Honorary Consul based in Ljubljana.

The Embassy primarily focuses on furthering the cordial bilateral relations that South Africa has with Austria, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia. The Embassy enhances trade and investments as well as promotes tourism to South Africa as the Department of Trade and Industry as well as SA Tourism are not represented in the three countries of accreditation.

South Africa’s foreign policy is driven by its domestic issues; therefore the work done by the Embassy is in line with the aims of promoting health and education, creating jobs, alleviating poverty, developing rural areas and the combating of crime.

The Republic of Austria

Relations between South Africa and Austria date back to 1852 when Austria opened a Consulate in Cape Town. The Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science, Research and Economy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific and Technological Cooperation in 2015.

Imports and exports between South Africa and Austria are on a healthy footing but there are many opportunities to increase bilateral trade as well as investment.

In 2019, bilateral trade between South Africa and Austria amounted to Euro 1180.9 million which is an increase of 26.1 % in comparison to 2018. South African exports amounted to Euro 572.5 million, an increase of 64.5 % and Austrian exports amounted to Euro 608.4 million, an increase of 3.4% compared to 2018. Iron ore still remains the biggest SA export product to Austria.

Trade statistics for the past five years:

2015
Total trade between South Africa and Austria - Euro 834.2 million
South African exports to Austria - Euro 346.1 million
Austrian exports to South Africa - Euro 488.1 million

2016
Total trade between South Africa and Austria - Euro 746.9 million
South African exports to Austria - Euro 311.6 million
Austrian exports to South Africa - Euro 435.3 million

2017
Total trade between South Africa and Austria - Euro 795.8 million
South African exports to Austria - Euro 368.8 million
Austrian exports to South Africa - Euro 427 million

2018
Total trade between South Africa and Austria - Euro 936.3 million
South African exports to Austria - Euro 348.2 million
Austrian exports to South Africa - Euro 588.1 million

2019
Total trade between South Africa and Austria – Euro 1180.9 million
South African exports to Austria – Euro 572.5 million
Austrian exports to South Africa – Euro 608.4 million

There are over 70 Austrian companies that have subsidiaries or agents in South Africa and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) has a representative based in Johannesburg.

There are four South African companies that have invested in Austria.

SA Tourism is not represented in Austria; therefore the Embassy also focuses on promoting tourism to South Africa.  The number of visitors arriving in SA from Austria in 2019 is 30 376.

The Slovak Republic

Bilateral relations between South Africa and the Slovak Republic are cordial and date back to 1993.  Whilst South Africa does not have an Embassy in Bratislava, the Ambassador in Vienna is accredited on a non-resident basis to Slovakia.  The Slovak Republic has an Embassy in Pretoria.  South Africa has an Honorary Consul based in Bratislava.  There is a bilateral consultation mechanism between the two countries in the Joint Council for Economic Cooperation (JCEC).

Bilateral trade between SA and Slovakia from January – December 2019 amounted to Euro 185.5 million which is an increase of 32.3 % in comparison to the same period in 2018. South Africa exports amounted to Euro 62.4 million, an increase of 102.5 % and Slovak exports amounted to Euro 123.1 million, an increase of 12.5 % compared to the same period in 2018.

Trade statistics for the past five years:

2015
Total trade between South Africa and the Slovak Republic – Euro 129.9 million
South African exports to Slovakia – Euro 21.9 million
Slovakian exports to South Africa – Euro 108 million

2016
Total trade between South Africa and the Slovak Republic – Euro 126.5 million
South African exports to Slovakia – Euro 23.5 million
Slovakian exports to South Africa – Euro 103 million

2017
Total trade between South Africa and the Slovak Republic - Euro 140.2 million
South African exports to Slovakia - Euro 30.8 million
Slovakian exports to South Africa - Euro 109.4 million

2018
Total trade between South Africa and the Slovak Republic - Euro 172.4 million
South African exports to Slovakia - Euro 49.3 million
Slovakian exports to South Africa - Euro 123.1 million

2019
Total trade between South Africa and the Slovak Republic - Euro 183.5 million
South African exports to Slovakia - Euro 50.8 million
Slovakian exports to South Africa - Euro 132.7 million

The number of Slovak visitors arriving in South Africa in 2019 was 2852.

The Republic of Slovenia

South Africa and the Republic of Slovenia established and have maintained cordial diplomatic relations since 1992.  Whilst South Africa does not have an Embassy in Ljubljana the Ambassador in Vienna is accredited on a non-resident basis to Slovenia.  Slovenia does not have an Embassy in South Africa but has an Honorary Consul General in Cape Town.  South Africa has an Honorary Consul in Ljubljana. There is a bilateral consultation mechanism between the two countries on the level of Senior Foreign Affairs officials.

Bilateral trade between SA and Slovenia from January to December 2019 amounted to Euro 72 million, an increase of 2.5% in comparison to 2018.  South Africa exports amounted to Euro 24.3 million, a decrease of 16.6 % compared to the same period last year. Slovenian exports amounted to Euro 47.7 million, an increase of 16.1 % compared to 2018.

Trade statistics for the past five years:

2015
Total trade between South Africa and Slovenia - Euro 51.4 million
South African exports to Slovenia - Euro 18.6 million
Slovenian exports to South Africa - Euro 32.8 million

2016
Total trade between South Africa and Slovenia - Euro 54.5 million
South African exports to Slovenia - Euro 16.7 million
Slovenian exports to South Africa - Euro 37.8 million

2017
Total trade between South Africa and Slovenia - Euro 55.2 million
South African exports to Slovenia - Euro 23.3 million
Slovenian exports to South Africa - Euro 31.9 million

2018
Total trade between South Africa and Slovenia - Euro 70.2 million
South African exports to Slovenia - Euro 29.1 million
Slovenian exports to South Africa - Euro 41.1 million

2019
Total trade between South Africa and Slovenia – Euro 72 million
South African exports to Slovenia – Euro 24.3 million
Slovenian exports to South Africa – Euro 47.7 million

The number of Slovenian visitors arriving in South Africa in 2019 was 1381.