OkUSA
Author: Harsh V. Pant
Source: thediplomat.com

The South African president's slated arrival in New Delhi as the Republic Day chief guest presents an opportunity.

This week will see South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gracing India's Republic Day celebrations. These invitations to be the chief guest at India's most high-profile public event carry high symbolic value as New Delhi sends out important strategic messages with the choice of its guests. Last year, the 10 leaders from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were the chief guests to reinforce India's priorities in the region. Other guests have included key partners of India, such as former U.S. President Barack Obama, former French President Francois Hollande, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. India had first invited U.S. President Donald Trump for this year, but the offer was declined by the White House because of "scheduling constraints."

The invitation to Ramaphosa is important from many dimensions. Ramaphosa, who served as the deputy president of South Africa from 2014 to 2018, has a long-standing record as an anti-apartheid activist. Despite being Nelson Mandela's preferred successor, the African National Congress (ANC) opted for his rival, Thabo Mbeki, as the second post-apartheid president. The decision to invite Ramaphosa also coincides with Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary; the South African leader is a keen Gandhi follower. In a first for a sitting president, Ramaphosa led the annual "Gandhi Walk" last year in Lenasia, an Indian township south of Johannesburg, in order to promote community awareness and fitness.

Ramaphosa took over as South Africa's president after an embattled Jacob Zuma resigned with great reluctance in February 2018. Zuma had been blamed for widespread corruption in South Africa, even as he led the country for more than a third of its time after apartheid. His departure was difficult, but necessary as the corruption scandals kept on mounting and the South African economy went into a tailspin. The persistent claims of corruption at the heart of government remain one of the major problems facing South Africa. As a consequence, South Africa's economic prospects remain uncertain in the lead up to the May elections this year even though the ANC is expected to win the elections. The ANC has benefited from Ramaphosa being at the helm of the party and the country, but the economy has not done as well as many were expecting when Ramaphosa took over, denting his popularity. For the ANC today, Ramaphosa remains its only asset, more popular than the party itself.

Ramaphosa will be visiting India, which itself has entered into election mode. But India's ties with South Africa remain too important to be left to the vagaries of electoral politics. The Modi government has made Africa a foreign policy priority, with sustained high-level engagements with countries in the continent since May 2014. This has been an attempt to deal with the complaint of African nations that India's interest in the continent remains episodic. As China's economic engagement in the region comes under growing critical scrutiny, there are new opportunities for India to enhance its profile with a more equitable partnership with African countries.

Bilateral trade between India and South Africa presently stands at about $10 billion and the potential for growth is significant. The two countries have set a target of $20 billion for trade and investment to be reached by 2021. Some of India's biggest corporations, such as Tata, Mahindra, and Vedanta, are among the 150 odd Indian companies that have invested in South Africa. New and emerging sectors like healthcare, technology, and skill development are going to be the focus during Ramaphosa's visit. He is keen to take the relationship beyond traditional trade and investment areas to a more forward-looking economic agenda. The defense relationship, with a focus on joint production as well as maritime security, is also going to be a priority in the future.

Beyond the bilateral, the two nations are engaged in a number of plurilateral initiatives. These include not only the much talked about BRICS grouping along with Russia, Brazil, and China, but also the India-Brazil-South Africa trilateral, the Commonwealth, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The BRICS agenda needs to evolve in a manner that emphasizes the voices of New Delhi and Pretoria. It is for this reason, perhaps, that the IBSA, which involves three democracies — India, Brazil and South Africa — needs to be revived. The Commonwealth also needs a more proactive engagement from India and South Africa if its future is to be viable. Given the centrality of the Indian Ocean in emerging geopolitics and geoeconomics, IORA needs full support from India and South Africa too to strengthen its institutional underpinnings.

It is perhaps time for the two nations to think big and start having a conversation about the larger trends in global politics. As a new order evolves, two friends with a longstanding historical relationship should now start talking about the future of Asia and Africa. At a time when strategic geographies are getting redefined with the rise of Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific, key players like India and South Africa need to move beyond their comfort zones. It is to be hoped that Ramaphosa's visit will be able to spur that conversation.

India
Author: Rajiv Bhatia
Source: gatewayhouse.in

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in India this week as the chief guest on Republic Day, and Prime Minister Modi both have elections on their minds, but the considerable diplomatic stakes in the bilateral relationship warrant his visit at this time

The visit to Delhi later this week by Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, is yet to generate excitement in political and diplomatic circles. This is not because Ramaphosa is an 'accidental' president[1] or 'accidental' chief guest[2] at the Republic Day celebrations this year. Expectations are low because most people wonder what is new anyway about India-South Africa relations?

Perhaps this sense of déjà vu is to be expected as both countries are at the cusp of elections. South Block's attention may have shifted palpably from external issues, but Ramaphosa is assured of a red-carpet welcome. After Nigeria, South Africa becomes the second country from the African continent to see its president as the chief guest for the second time at the Indian Republic's biggest spectacle.[3] In South Africa too, with elections in May, the visit seems a necessary ritual. "While the (South African) economy staggers along," as an expert, Larry Claasen, put it, "social tensions are increasing."[4] The president is busy stabilising the economy and preparing for the tough electoral campaign ahead, spending only a day in Delhi on his way back home from Davos.

Diplomatic stakes are still significant in the India-South Africa relationship. A series of high-level events since 2018 have marked various milestones, including the silver jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Nelson Mandela's birth centenary, 125 years of the famous Pietermaritzburg 'train incident',[5] and the Mahatma's sesquicentennial. Here then are some of the issues on the bilateral agenda that Ramaphosa's visit can advance.

One, the challenge for New Delhi and Pretoria is to convince each other – and their media and strategic communities – that they can deepen the bilateral engagement while furthering other partnerships. There is a compelling need to ensure better alignment between India's Africa policy and South Africa's Asia policy. India's relations with several African countries have strengthened considerably in recent years.[6] Likewise, South Africa's quest for partners in Asia has taken it to a much greater level of proximity to China: South Africa co-chaired the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summits both in Johannesburg (2015) and Beijing (2018).

Two, the two nations should deepen their understanding to ensure better balance and coherence among BRICS' member-states, especially between China and the other four – India, Russia, South Africa and Brazil. The Johannesburg summit of BRICS nations last year laid out a forward-looking agenda for support of free and fair trade, commitment to multilateralism, and a strategy for leveraging opportunities, created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The continuing challenge is to translate commitments into action, in spite of the headwinds created by the U.S.-China trade conflict, Brexit and rising tensions in West Asia. The other pressing issue is to safeguard the credibility of BRICS by fulfilling the expectations of fellow countries from the Global South, especially sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This will happen when the New Development Bank of BRICS begins to extend assistance for development projects in the two regions. The prospects for this look dim at present.

Three, the Modi-Ramaphosa discussions in Delhi may produce some clues about the timing of the next summit of IBSA, comprising India, Brazil and South Africa. In July 2014, in Fortaleza, PM Modi and Jacob Zuma, the then president of South Africa, had agreed that India will host the much-delayed summit in 2015.[7] This is yet to happen, ostensibly due to a continuing conflict of leaders' schedules. The real reason may have something to do with the shared perception of China's objections. In the meantime, IBSA has continued to function at the level of foreign ministers. Will it be kept at that level in the future as well?

Four, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which is on a positive path, will engage the leaders' attention. The regional grouping's calibrated rejuvenation that began under India's chairmanship (2011-13) has advanced during South Africa's current tenure (2017-19), with a valuable contribution by Australia and Indonesia which held the chair between the two periods. The grouping has strengthened its institutional mechanisms, striven to play an active role in the domain of the Blue Economy and sought active collaboration with its partners

IORA's member-states await financial and technical assistance from 'observers', such as the U.S., China and Japan. They want to enhance cooperation in the realm of the Blue Economy and expand trade and investment linkages. While India and South Africa have been mostly on the same page, they apparently ended up disagreeing on the admission of Myanmar into the IORA. Probably South Africa's non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council may have had something to do with opposing Myanmar's application on grounds of its expulsion of the Rohingyas to Bangladesh.

Equally, the bilateral economic relationship is certain to be high on the agenda of Delhi discussions. Trade is on the decline from $15.7 billion (2011-12) to $10.6 billion (2017-18), while investment flows are on the rise. Over 150 Indian companies are active in the South African and neighbourhood markets; Vedanta leads the pack among the newcomers, having committed $1 billion investment in South Africa; and more new players are showing interest. From the South African side, several majors are engaged in India.[8] Naspers is the lead investor in a billion-dollar investment in Swiggy, India's largest food delivery platform, besides the former's commitments to Byju's and other enterprises.

The India-South Africa Business Summit, held in South Africa last April, demonstrated tangible interest from both sides to expand economic links. There was a promise of 'a joint action plan'. While details are still awaited, the bilateral Business Forum meeting, to be held in Delhi on January 25, is expected to give some fillip to business promotion efforts. On capacity building, an area of proven convergence, India has already fulfilled its commitment by establishing the Gandhi-Mandela Skills Institute in Pretoria recently.

Finally, looking beyond government and business-level exchanges, the two governments are trying to strengthen people-to-people relations. New agreements of cooperation are expected to be finalised between the think tanks of India and South Africa. Besides, while in Delhi, President Ramaphosa will deliver the Gandhi-Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture "as a part of the celebrations of the 15th Anniversary of IBSA."[9] This may hopefully trigger a long and fruitful series of lectures to sensitise the millennials of both countries about the rich legacy and links of ideas, icons and interests that they share.

Rajiv Bhatia is Distinguished Fellow, Gateway House and a former Indian High Commissioner to South Africa. He comments regularly on developments in Africa and India-Africa relations.

This article was exclusively written for Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. You can read more exclusive content here.

For interview requests with the author, or for permission to republish, please contact outreach@gatewayhouse.in.

© Copyright 2019 Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized copying or reproduction is strictly prohibited.

References

[1] His predecessor, Jacob Zuma, was forced by the ruling party – African National Congress (ANC) – to resign prematurely amidst corruption scandals and make way for the newly-elected president of ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, to take over as the President of South Africa. Thus the latter holds the presidency and is serving Zuma's remaining tenure, which ends in May 2019.

[2] The government invited Donald Trump, U.S. President, to visit India and be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2019. Trump declined the invitation due to other preoccupations. New Delhi then invited Ramaphosa who accepted the invitation.

[3] President Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at the Republic Day in 1995.

[4] https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2018-12-13-cyril-ramaphosas-careful-balancing-act-in-2019/

[5] The incident on 7 June 1893 refers to the time when young lawyer, M.K. Gandhi, was evicted from the first-class compartment of a train in an act of blatant racial discrimination. It launched him on the road to Satyagraha. His non-violent resistance profoundly affected both South Africa and India. South Africans are fond of saying: 'India gave us a lawyer, and we returned a Mahatma'

[6] The reference is to Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia.

[7] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/India-to-host-IBSA-Summit-next-year/article11269923.ece

[8] Please see my previous article on the subject: https://www.gatewayhouse.in/opportunity-with-ramaphosa

[9] https://www.mea.gov.in/pressreleases.htm?dtl/30932/State_Visit_of_President_of_South_Africa_to_India_January_2526_2019

Russia
Source: tass.com

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed that the 9M729 cruise missile issue will provide another chance for dialogue with the US to save the INF deal

KUBINKA /Moscow Region/, January 23. /TASS/. The United States' demand for Russia's verifiable elimination of all cruise missiles 9M729 are absolutely unacceptable for Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told a joint news briefing by the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry devoted to the 9M729 missile on Wednesday.

"The US delegation arrived in Geneva for inter-departmental consultations over the INF Treaty with the sole purpose: to read out statements written in advance to the effect that Russia rejects the ultimatum demanding our unilateral concessions implying verifiable elimination of all 9M729 missiles, their launchers and related equipment," he said. "Naturally, this kind of approach by no means looks like a diligent attempt at achieving a solution that would suit both sides and is absolutely unacceptable for us in gist and content.".

He stressed that Russia will demonstrate the 9M729 cruise missile to representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), BRICS, the European Union and NATO.

"Representatives of CSTO states, BRICS, the European Union and NATO have been invited for the event today, along with representatives of certain other European and Asian countries," the diplomat said. "We set ourselves a task to provide foreign experts with an opportunity to make a true picture on their own," Ryabkov said.

The diplomat also expressed hope that explanations concerning the 9M729 cruise missile will give another chance to dialogue with the US on preserving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

"We expect that the objective technical data provided by us and the arguments that have been cited will lead to the intensification of the thought process in the US, which will help give another chance to a dialogue aimed at preserving the INF Treaty. For our part, we continue to be ready for such work. It should be done with the mandatory mutual consideration of both parties' interests and concerns and without any counterproductive ultimatums," he said.

"The treaty needs to be preserved. It is up to the American side to make the choice," Ryabkov stressed.

South Africa
Source: sanews.gov.za

While the partnership between South Africa continues to yield good results many unexplored opportunities remain, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Speaking at the South Africa - India Business Forum held in Delhi, India, President Ramaphosa said the two countries have worked to transform their relationship forged in struggle into a partnership for peace and economic prosperity, but more needs to be done.

The President arrived in the South Asian country on a State visit on Friday.

He said that currently the two countries cooperate in multilateral formations such as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), G20 and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation.

He urged the two countries to strive to forge a developmental path paved with pragmatism and a renewed sense of purpose as the challenges now faced by both countries have become greater and more complex.

The two countries continued to face high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, particularly among women and the youth.

The two countries, he said, need to increase their production capacity while taking into account the changing and increasingly unstable nature of the international trading environment.

"However, while these rapid changes create challenges, we must not be blinded to the opportunities that lie behind and in the midst of such difficulties. There remain many unexplored opportunities that can propel us to a better tomorrow," he said.

The two countries also have complementarities and comparative advantages which can be exploited for mutual benefit, especially in trade, investment, technical exchanges in information and communications technology, and skills development.


Trade relations

Meanwhile, India is an important destination for South African exports and is the fifth largest global market for goods.

The President said he is pleased with the steady increase in trade between the respective countries which has grown from R80 billion to R107 billion over a five-year period from 2013 to 2017.

He attributed this progress to the broadening of economic space for bilateral trade, increased competitiveness in the two States' respective industries, as well as the strategic cooperation in fora such as BRICS, which have targeted programmes for increasing trade and investment.

He also welcomed the current initiatives by respective ministers of trade to increase bilateral trade. The two countries are seeking to explore sector-specific collaboration to boost manufacturing and trade relations with an emphasis on increasing trade in value added goods and services.


Investment relationship

South Africa's investment relationship with India has also deepened, with more than 150 Indian firms like Tata, Cipla and Mahindra operating in South Africa.

"We recognise and appreciate Vedanta Resources' investment of $1.6 billion in the Gamsberg Zinc mine in the Northern Cape province, of which $400 million has already been spent. This investment by Vedanta has triggered a new wave of industrial and economic development in that part of our country."


Untapped opportunities

President Ramaphosa said untapped opportunities still remain in sectors such as agriculture and agro-processing, automotive, pharmaceutical, aerospace and defence industries, infrastructure, energy, ICT, electronics, metals and mining, creative industries and the oceans economy.

He said the South African government is cognisant of the need to intensify efforts to create an enabling environment for business to thrive.


India-Africa Forum

"We are taking policy certainty and consistency very seriously and we act decisively and with speed whenever concerns are raised about these," he said, adding that South Africa remains committed to attain the goals set out in Africa's socio-economic developmental blue print, Agenda 2063.

"Africa is a continent of opportunity. We are therefore encouraged by India's commitment to the development of the African continent though the India-Africa Forum."

This forum, he said, must embolden Indian companies to form partnerships with South Africa's financial institutions and the private sector to jointly collaborate on projects that can build Africa's productive capacity and infrastructure.


SA companies in India

South Africa is also appreciative of the reforms undertaken by India on improving the investment environment, which will encourage more South African companies to enter the Indian market.

Currently there are 29 South African companies invested in India and South Africa wishes to see them double in number in the coming years.

South African firms with a presence in India include Sanlam, Life Healthcare, Momentum, Airports Company of South Africa, First Rand Bank, Old Mutual, and Naspers, among others. – SAnews.gov.za

India
Author: Abhishek Mishra
Source: orfonline.org

India's relationship with South Africa is both fundamental and unique, dating back several centuries and is anchored in common ideals, ideas, interests, and icons – like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. However, their bilateral relationship remained strained for a long time due to South Africa's apartheid government. Following its independence, India intensified its struggle at multilateral organisations like United Nations (UN), Commonwealth, and Non Aligned Movement (NAM), and was the first country to severe trade relations in 1946, and subsequently imposed political and economic sanctions. After a gap of four decades, India re-established trade and business ties in 1993, after South Africa ended its institutionalised racial segregation. In May 1993, a Cultural Center was opened in Johannesburg. In November 1993, diplomatic and consular relations were restored during the visit of then South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha to India. The Indian High Commission in Pretoria was opened in May 1994. In 1996, India opened its permanent Office of High Commission in Cape Town, which was re-designated as Consulate General of India in 2011.

India and South Africa's shared common experiences and collective strength have shaped how they both view the world together. As two nations who have shared their struggle to freedom, the responsibility to improve the lives of others is embedded within India and South Africa's consciousness. After South Africa achieved democracy in 1994, it was the Red Fort Declaration on Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa, signed in March 1997 by then PM Shri Deve Gowda and Nelson Mandela, which set the parameters for a rekindled relationship. The 20^th anniversary of signing of the declaration was commemorated by an India-South African cultural extravaganza comprising of music and dance performances, and an event organised by High Commission of India, Pretoria on April 9, 2017. This Strategic Partnership between the two countries was again re-affirmed in the Tshwane Declaration (October 2006). Both these declarations have been instrumental mechanisms that has contributed in the past to both South Africa and India for achieving their respective national objectives.

Bilateral trade and investments – India is South Africa's fifth-largest export destination, and fourth-largest import origin and is the second-largest trading partner in Asia. Both countries are working to boost trade volumes in the coming years. Bilateral trade between India and South Africa currently stands at $10 billion. In 2016, both countries set a target of doubling bilateral trade and investment to $20 billion by 2021.

A recent joint study by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) published in May, 2018, suggested that around 140 Indian companies have invested close to $4 billion in South Africa, thereby creating direct employment for over 18,000 people. The leading Indian companies are Wipro, Coal India, Cipla, HCL Technologies, Tata Motors, Zomato, Mahindra and Mahindra, Vedanta, and Motherson Sumi. South African companies which have invested in India are SASOL, FirstRand, Old Mutual, ACSA, Shoprite and Nandos.

Indian community in South Africa – South Africa is home to the highest number of Indian Diaspora in the African continent, with a total strength of 1,218,000 thereby constituting 3 percent of South Africa's total population. Since 2003 onwards, India celebrates Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) each year on 9^th January (the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to India). Various mini-PBDs are also held regionally. The fourth in the series called 'PBD-Africa' was held in Durban, South Africa, on October 2010. This event also marked the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of Indian in South Africa. One of the event's activities is Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), which is the highest honor conferred on overseas Indians, including in Africa. Some of the awards winners from South Africa are Prof Fatima Meer (2003), Ahmed Kathrada (2005), Sisupal Rambharos (2006), Billy Nair (2007), Ms Khorshed Noshir Ginwala (2012), Ismail E. Ebrahim (2013), Ms Ela Gandhi (2014), Essop Goolam Pahad (2015), Swami Sardaprabhananda and Anil Sooklal (2019).

High-level visits - Both the countries have maintained their unique bilateral relationship marked by regular high-level visits and exchanges.

PM Modi's 2016 visit - During PM Modi's visit to South Africa on July 8, 2016, a number of MoU/Agreements were signed such as; Memorandum of Understanding on ICT, Programme of Cooperation in Arts and Culture, Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism, and Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment Grass Root Innovation in the area of Science and Technology.

In the joint statement which was released subsequently, both PM Narendra Modi and then President of South Africa Mr. Jacob Zuma referred to the historical relations which India and South Africa shares, as well as the mutual struggle against colonialism and oppression. Both leaders agreed to collaborate in defence sector, especially in terms of the opportunities available for South African private sector under 'Make in India' initiative, energy sector, agro-processing, human resource development, and infrastructure development. Also, the relaxation of foreign direct investment (FDI) rule through the lifting of the caps on FDI in nine sectors of the Indian economy, including defence, food retail, local airlines, private security firms and pharmaceutical sectors, has been well-appreciated by the South African government. President Zuma and PM Modi also welcomed the decision of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to open a regional office in Johannesburg. In the field of scientific and technical (S&T) research, the Department of Science and Technology of both countries have collaborated, especially in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project under which eight new bilateral Research and Development (R&D) projects for capacity building and instrumentation development in the area of astronomy were to be implemented under the framework of India-South Africa S&T Cooperation.

List of MoUs signed during 10^th BRICS Summit – The MoUs signed between India and South Africa on July 26, 2018 were;

• Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India and the Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa on Cooperation on Agricultural Research and Education
• Memorandum of Understanding between Government of Republic of South Africa and Government of India regarding the Setting up of the "Gandhi Mandela Centre of Specialisation in Artisan Skills" in South Africa
• Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Space Research Organisation and the South African National Space Agency on Cooperation in the Exploration and uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes

Partnership in multilateral fora's - India and South Africa have a long history of working together by coordinating their views and efforts in institutions of global governance/multilateral fora's, in order to achieve greater autonomy and ensure that the agenda of 'South' is prioritised.

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) – In 2010, the formerly known grouping of BRIC, became BRICS with the induction of South Africa. The BRICS Forum's valuable contribution in reforming the global financial and economic architecture is well-appreciated by both India and South Africa. During the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza in 2014, a decision was taken to establish the New Development Bank (NDB) which aims to mobilise resources for development project in BRICS, emerging economies, and developing countries. BRICS leadership in creating alternative institutions like the NDB is indeed noteworthy. Although the NDB is not envisaged as rivals to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, as an additional mechanism, the political message is clear. Both India and South Africa remains committed to work together to enhance intra-BRICS trade, investment, and financial cooperation.

IBSA (India, Brazil, and South Africa) – Established in 2003, the IBSA Dialogue Forum brings together three large democracies and major economies from three different continent's facing similar developmental challenges, and represents three developing, pluralistic, multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual, and multi-religious nations. India and South Africa appreciates the work carried out by the IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund), established in March 2004, and became operational in 2006, in sharing experiences, expertise, and capacities with developing countries in a South-South Cooperation framework.

G20 – Both India and South Africa recognises G20 as the premier forum for coordination in international financial and economic matters, and calls upon the world-community to utilise monetary, fiscal, and structural reforms to jump-start the global economy. During his meeting with former President Zuma in 2016, PM Modi agreed on India's continued support for the South African proposals on the illicit financial flows, the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and for the industrialization of Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as well as the G20 Action Plan on the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) – India and South Africa supports WTO as the sole-multilateral mechanism on global trade, commerce, and in the centrality accorded to the development-agenda in the Doha Development Round. On July 12, 2018, India and South Africa made a joint proposal at the WTO, which said "the realities prevailing in the 1998, when WTO members agreed for the first time to the temporary moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, have changed significantly during the subsequent two decades." Their main contention is that the present moratorium can lead to loss of competitiveness among developing countries, since they have higher tariffs on physical products, while the same product in digital form attracts zero duty. This joint India-South Africa report took due note of attempts by the developed world to make commitments more comprehensive and stringent through negotiations on regional trade agreements and multilateral agreements.

President Ramaphosa's up-coming visit – Chief Guests visit to Indian Republic Day parades is full of symbolism and the guest is decided on the basis of other countries' interest and the guest's availability. The growing synergy in India-South Africa bilateral ties is underscored by the fact that, this year's Chief Guest of Honour is President of Republic of South Africa H.E Cyril Ramaphosa. The invitation was extended and accepted by President Ramaphosa during his meeting with PM Modi on the margins of G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018. This year is significant as it marks the 150^th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 100^thanniversary of Nelson Mandela. The visit will be President Ramaphosa's first visit to India as Head of State, and will be the second South African President to be the Chief Guest for India's Republic Day parade, after Nelson Mandela in 1995. Mr. Ramaphosa will be accompanied by First Lady Dr. Tshepo Motsepe and a high-level delegation including nine ministers, senior officials, and fifty-member business delegation.

During the visit, President Ramaphosa and PM Modi will address the India-South Africa Business Summit (ISABS) whose objective is to grow business ties between the two countries. The first ISABS was held on April 30, 2018 at Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg. Both PM Modi and President Ramaphosa has identified skill development, health services and digitisation of governance as priority sectors.

Since 1993, over 1200 South Africans have received skills and technical training in India under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC). In this regard, the Pretoria Institute, which is set to be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2019, will provide electrical, mechanical fitting, boiler-making, and millwright skills training. The visit offers a golden opportunity for employed South Africans aged 25 to 45 to apply for this Indian training programme.

President Ramaphosa's visit will also provide an opportunity to discuss India-South Africa bilateral defences ties. In the past, Denel, a South African local manufacturer of defence products and solutions, has been a major arms exporter to India. However, the company was blacklisted in 2005 by then UPA government over paying kickback allegations. After a hiatus of thirteen years, the ban was lifted following a May, 2018 judgement of the Supreme Court which dropped all corruption charges. Under India's 'Make in India' programme, Denel will explore opportunities for joint ventures with Indian firms.

India-South Africa partnership is progressive and forward looking. Our rich culture and people-to-people contacts lends character and quality to India-South Africa ties. The visit of President Ramaphosa as Chief Guest of Honour for India's Republic Day parade is a step in the right direction for consolidating our bilateral ties.

South Africa
Source: www.dirco.gov.za

At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the President of the Republic of South Africa His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by first lady Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, 09 Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and a large business delegation is on a State Visit to the Republic of India on 25-26 January 2019. President Ramaphosa on his first State visit to India is also the Chief Guest at India's 70th Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2019.

2. President Ramaphosa was accorded a ceremonial welcome on January 25, 2019 at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. President Kovind is hosting a banquet dinner on January 25, 2019 in honour of the visiting President of South Africa. President Ramaphosa accompanied by Dr. Motsepe also paid respects to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated both nationally and internationally.

3. President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi held delegation level talks at Hyderabad House on January 25, 2019. The two leaders held discussions in the spirit of the strategic partnership, strong friendship and historical links between the two countries. Both leaders acknowledged the significance of the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of Nelson Mandela and the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi as an invaluable legacy of peace, non-violence and compassion.

4. President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi jointly addressed the India-South Africa Business Forum on January 25, 2019, with a focus to grow business ties between the two countries. President Ramaphosa also delivered the inaugural IBSA Gandhi-Mandela Freedom Lecture, in the presence of Prime Minister of India.

5. During the visit, a Three-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2019-2021) was signed by the two sides, aimed at further enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

6. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Ramaphosa:

• recalled the Strategic Partnership established between India and South Africa through the Red Fort Declaration of March 1997 and the Tshwane Declaration of October 2006.
• expressed satisfaction at the deepening and widening of this comprehensive bilateral partnership.
• emphasised the need to further deepen relations in the political, economic, defense, scientific, consular and socio-cultural spheres.
• agreed that the 10th Session of the India-South Africa Joint Ministerial Commission will be held in 2019 in New Delhi led by the Foreign Ministers of both the countries.
• expressed satisfaction at the steady pace of cooperation in the defence sector encompassing a wide range of engagements including defence production, joint collaboration, manufacturing, research and development, training and joint exercises.
• recognised the importance of increased bilateral naval cooperation and closer synergy within the context of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) which, by keeping the sea lanes secure against illegal actors, will ensure unhindered passage for trade and continued prosperity of the entire Indian Ocean Region.
• acknowledged the increasing engagement between the two navies in recent years which inter alia has translated to increased interactions in maritime operations and training. PM Modi welcomed the participation of the South African National Defence Force in the First Multinational India-Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX) in March 2019 at Pune, India.
• welcomed the holding of the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI).
• welcomed the significant investment and presence of a large number of Indian companies and business entities in South Africa and the growing number of South African investments in India. In this regard, agreed to enhance bilateral investments between the two countries within the context of the Memorandum of Understanding between Invest SA and Invest India on enhancing bilateral investment relations.
• agreed to cooperate, share best practices, technology and expertise on the Ease of Doing Business Reform Programme.
• committed to expanding cooperation in the fields of trade and investments between business entities in South Africa and India
• agreed to cooperate in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which play an invaluable role in job creation and creating trade and investment opportunities.
• acknowledging the holding of the first India-South Africa Business Summit in South Africa in April 2018 and the Invest in India Business Forum in November 2018, invited the private sectors to invest in key economic sectors of India and South Africa
• agreed that both countries should explore solutions aimed at boosting trade and investment. In this context, President Ramaphosa agreed to simplify and reform South African business visa regime.
• acknowledged the impressive progress achieved in cooperation in Science and Technology and innovations.
• agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of the Oceans Economy and to cooperate in multilateral forums on the Blue Economy including in the framework of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation in the energy sector, and the potential to expand cooperation in the renewable energy sector as well as oil and gas.
• agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of mining, deep mining and mineral beneficiation.
• acknowledged that the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a common platform for cooperation among solar resource rich countries. India invited South Africa to join the ISA.
• agreed to strengthen agriculture and fisheries cooperation in areas such as crop and animal production, food security, aquaculture and aquatic product processing.
• agreed to work towards addressing skills development through the investment of resources and exchange of best practices.
• welcomed the setting up of the "Gandhi – Mandela Centre of Specialization for Artisan Skills" in South Africa with Indian assistance.
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