INTRODUCTIONOfficial statistics of South Africa’s external liabilities and assets date back to the end of 1956 – the year in respect of which the South African Reserve Bank (the Bank) took the First Census of Foreign Transactions, Liabilities and Assets. The Bank subsequently took comprehensive censuses of foreign transactions, liabilities and assets for 1973, 1980, 1989, 1995 and 2001. For intervening years South Africa’s international investment position was estimated with the aid of information collected by means of comprehensive surveys.The decision to conduct the Sixth Census of Foreign Transactions, Liabilities and Assets in respect of the year 2001 was motivated by the integration of world financial markets in recent years. Continued foreign interest in South African assets, together with the gradual relaxation of exchange control measures applicable to South African residents, has played an important role in changing the composition of the country’s external liabilities and the diversification of South Africa’s external assets since 1994.The success of any census depends heavily on the willingness of a large number of organisations to provide accurate financial information to the Bank in good time. Notwithstanding the additional workload imposed on the reporting entities in completing comprehensive questionnaires, the Bank received good co-operation from most of the organisations which were approached to submit returns. The Bank would like to express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to those who participated in the census and contributed to the results summarised in this report.