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President Abdul Kalam of India on State
Visit to South Africa: 14-18 September 2004
PRETORIA- President of the Republic of India Dr. Abdul
Kalam will pay a State Visit to South Africa from Tuesday-Saturday
14-18 September 2004, at the invitation of President
Thabo Mbeki. Ms Meira Kumar, Indian Minister of Social
Justice and Empowerment and Members of Parliament will
accompany President Kalam.
This will be the first state visit by a serving Indian
Head of State since the transformation of South Africa
into a democracy. The State visit will serve to enhance
the strategic partnership which exists between India
and South Africa and follows upon the highly successful
State Visit undertaken by President Thabo Mbeki to India
in October 2003.
The visit will afford President Mbeki and President
Kalam the opportunity to exchange views on a variety
of issues including the strengthening of multilateralism,
the WTO, the campaign against international terrorism,
the aftermath of the war in Iraq and developments in
the Middle East. Other topics for discussion would include
South-South relations, North-South relations, developments
within in Africa with reference to the African Union,
NEPAD, ongoing peace-keeping efforts in Central and
West Africa, the rapprochement between India and Pakistan,
and as well as co-operation with the new government
of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In addition
the visit will afford an opportunity to discuss the
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) trilateral co-operation
agenda and an envisaged programme of action.
BACKGROUND
Relations between South Africa and India have been
historically solid. Since the establishment of diplomatic
relations, former President Nelson Mandela has twice
visited India on State Visits, whilst former Indian
Prime Minister Gujral (March1997) and Vajpayee have
also visited South Africa (the latter to attend the
NAM Summit in Durban in August 1998 and the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Summit in November 1999).
President Thabo Mbeki visited India as Deputy President
in 1996 and undertook a successful State Visit in October
2003. In the last number of years a number of South
African Ministers paid official visits to India.
Three important agreements serve as the basis for the
relationship between South Africa and India. The first
is the Agreement on the Inter-Governmental Joint Commission
for Political, Trade, Economic, Cultural, Scientific
and Technical Co-operation signed by former President
Nelson Mandela and former Prime Minister Narasima Rao
on 25 January 1995.
The second important foundation of the bilateral relationship
between India and South Africa is the historic Red Fort
Declaration on bilateral partnership, which was signed
during former President Nelson Mandela's State Visit
to India in March 1997. The partnership is based on
a common commitment to economic development, social
justice and co-operation for a global order that is
marked by peace, security and equity.
The third is the Delhi Declaration signed during the
2003 State Visit of President Thabo Mbeki, which reaffirms
the strategic partnership between the two countries.
JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMISSION
South Africa and India have growing bilateral relations
under the aegis of the Joint Ministerial Commission
(JMC) in the political, communications, economic, education,
defence, health, science and technology, housing, arts,
culture, agricultural spheres. The last meeting of the
JMC took place on 3 and 4 July 2003 in Pretoria. The
two sides discussed a wide range of global issues including
the future of multilateralism, international economic
relations, the way ahead for the Non-Aligned Movement
and South-South Co-operation. India reconfirmed its
support for NEPAD and announced the earmarking of a
sum of US$200 million in a combination of grants, credits
and loans for projects under NEPAD. The next meeting
is envisaged to take place during the first quarter
of 2005.
TRADE RELATIONS
Trade between South Africa and India continues to grow.
In 2003, total bilateral trade approached a level of
R6.5 billion, with imports from India at R3.12 billion
and exports to India at R3.35 billion. India currently
ranks as South Africa's 20th most important export market
and 20th most important import market. Given the potential
for bilateral trade, this may well change during coming
years.
The sheer size of the Indian economy (14th largest
manufacturing economy in the world) gives it an influential
position in the global market in which South Africa
has a key interest. Since South Africa and India have
similar developmental challenges, their collective capacity
in bargaining and voicing concerns that affect their
economies in international forums is made highly effective.
As a key emerging regional economy, India provides a
platform for the re-integration of the South African
economy with that of South Asia.
For further information contact:
· Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
10 September 2004
Agreements
Agreements currently being negotiated between South
Africa and India are:
- Free Trade Framework Agreement;
- MoU on Co-operation in the field of Agriculture;
- Agreement on Co-operation in Health and Medicine;
- MoU on Information and Communications Technology;
- Agreement on Police Co-operation;
- MoU on Sports and Youth Affairs;
- MoU on Maritime: Merchant Shipping; and
- MoU between the South African and Indian Foreign
Service Institutes.
Economic relations with South Africa
SA Trade with India (Rand - billions) (Source: DTI)
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Exports 1.34 1.63 2.36 3.0 3.30 4.03 3.35
Imports 1.54 1.63 1.51 1.76 2.11 2.94 3.12
Total 2.88 3.26 3.87 4.76 5.43 6.94 6.47
Main Indian products exported to South Africa are:
Cotton, yarn finished leather goods, machinery and
instruments, handmade yarn fabrics, chemicals, spices,
rice, handicrafts and handmade carpets.
Main products imported from South Africa are :
Gold, silver, coal and briquettes, iron and steel,
inorganic and organic fertiliser, pulp and waste paper,
and petroleum crude.
Bilateral Trade
Trade between South Africa and India continues to grow.
In 2003, total bilateral trade approached a level of
R6.5 billion, with imports from India at R3.12 billion
and exports to India at R3.35 billion. India currently
ranks as South Africa's 20th most important export market
and 20th most important import market. Given the potential
for bilateral trade, this may well change during coming
years.
In 2002 India and South Africa established a bilateral
Working Group to negotiate a Preferential Trading Agreement
between the two countries. The Working Group first met
in December 2002 in Pretoria and aims at concluding
its work at the end of 2004.
Historical relations between the two countries are
now being used to foster closer economic links. To maximise
opportunities between the two economies, various initiatives
have been undertaken. The India-South Africa Commercial
Alliance (ISACA), a private sector driven, government
facilitated sectoral interaction forum was set up in
recognition of the need to bridge the information awareness
gap, deal with industry concerns, overcome barriers
to trade and investment and stimulate trade in manufacturers
and services between the two countries. ISACA meets
under the auspices of the Joint Ministerial Commission
(JMC).
ISACA was re-invigorated during its last meeting in
Pretoria in June 2003. The creation of smaller but effective
cross-sectoral working groups within ISACA has helped
develop trade and build alliances. Tie-ups in ICT, mining
and mining equipment have been noted as a result. Frequent
visits and information exchange continues. Developments
in building economic relations with India are also expanding
to include partners in SACU. To this effect SACU recently
agreed that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) be negotiated
with India.
Defence Co-operation
A number of areas of co-operation between the SA and
Indian Defence Forces have been identified, including
joint activities in the field of defence production,
training exchanges, joint exercises, co-operation in
the field of hydrography and information sharing. Indian
Defence delegations have visited SA during the past
three years to discuss matters related to production
of defence equipment and sharing of technical expertise.
India has been one of the biggest purchasers from the
SA defence industry. South African companies led by
DENEL are currently involved in an important bid for
a very large contract to supply 155mm artillery to the
Indian Army. According to Denel this deal is vital to
its long-term viability.
South Africa and India have signed three Defence Agreements:
a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Co-operation
in the Field of Defence Equipment (1996), an Agreement
on Defence Co-operation (2000) and an Agreement on Supply
of Defence Equipment (2003).
Culture
A year-long series of cultural events are being held
under the auspices of the South African and Indian High
Commissions and Consulates-General to commemorate South
Africa's 10 years of Democracy.
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