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India-South Africa Relations

Historical Background

Indias links with the struggle for freedom and justice in South Africa dateback to the period during which Mahatma Gandhi started his Satyagrahamovement in South Africa over a century ago. India was at the forefront of theinternational community in its support to the anti apartheid movement! it was thefirst country to sever trade relations with the apartheid Government "in #$%&' andsubse(uently imposed a complete diplomatic) commercial) cultural and sports embargo on South Africa. India worked consistently to put the issue of apartheid onthe agenda of the *+) +AM and other multilateral organi,ations and for theimposition of comprehensive international sanctions against South Africa. -he A+maintained a representative office in +ew /elhi from the #$&0s onwards.

1ollowing talks between the then South African Government and the A+ )Indias relations with South Africa were restored after a gap of over four decadeswith the opening of a ultural entre in 2ohannesburg in May #$$3. 1ormaldiplomatic and consular relations with South Africa were restored in +ovember #$$3 during the visit to India of the then South African 1oreign Minister 4ik 5otha.

A onsulate General was thereafter established in 2ohannesburg. -he Indian 6ighommission in 4retoria was opened in May #$$%) followed by the opening of theonsulate General in /urban the same month. Since 4arliament in South Africa

meets in ape -own) a permanent office of the 6igh ommission was openedthere in #$$&) which has been re designated as onsulate General of India witheffect from 2anuary 70##. In addition to its 6igh ommission in /elhi) South Africa

has a onsulate General in Mumbai.Political Relations

Development of political relations since 199

Against the background of Indias consistent support to the anti apartheidstruggle) there has been a steady consolidation of our close and friendly ties withSouth Africa) both bilaterally and through the trilateral I5SA /ialogue 1orum. Anumber of bilateral agreements have been concluded between the two countriessince the assumption of diplomatic relations in #$$3 in diverse areas ranging from

economic and commercial cooperation) defence) culture) heath) humansettlements) public administration) science and technology and education. Indias-echnical and 8conomic ooperation 4rogramme "I-8 ' has been a usefulmedium of promoting cooperation in development of human resources.

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Recent High !evel visits

4rime Minister /r Manmohan Singh visited South Africa in March 70#3 toattend 9 th 5:I S Summit held in /urban. 4Ms official delegation included 1inanceMinister Shri 4. hidambaram) ommerce and Industry Minister Shri Anand

Sharma! and other senior officials. 4resident Smt. 4ratibha /evisingh 4atil paid aState ;isit to South Africa in May 70#7. 4resident of South Africa) Mr 2acob

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IBSA & BRI#S Initiative

n 2une &) 7003) the 1oreign Ministers of India) 5ra,il and South Africa metin 5rasilia and agreed to set up a /ialogue 1orum for regular consultations on such

matters. Subse(uently) in 700&) this was upgraded to Summit level! five Summitshave been held so far) the last in 4retoria in ctober 70##. I5SA -rilateralMinisterial meeting was held in +ew /elhi in March 70##. #& Sectoral orkingGroups have been established in areas such as health) agriculture) education)human settlements) S?- and defence. South Africa has also been admitted as amember of the 5:I S grouping and attended the 5:I S meeting held in April70## at Sanya) 5:I S Summit held in March 70#7 in +ew /elhi and South Africahosted the 9 th Summit at /urban in March 70#3.

#ommercial & 'conomic Relations

ommercial relations have flourished since the establishment of diplomaticrelations in #$$3. n the trade front) value of bilateral trade has increased from*S 7.9 billion in 7003 700% to *S #3.#F billion in 70#7 #3. /uring the visit of 4resident

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Major investors include -ata "automobiles) I-) hospitality) and ferrochromeplant') *5 Group "breweries) hotels') Mahindra "automobiles' and a number of pharmaceutical companies) including :anbaDy) I4EA) etc as well as I-companies and some investments in the mining sector. -here is also growingSouth African investments in India led by SA5 Miller "breweries') A SA

"upgradation of Mumbai airport') SA+EAM and ld Mutual "insurance') AE-8 6"set top boDes') Adcock Ingram "pharmaceuticals') :and Merchant 5ank "banking'.1irst +ational 5ank) a leading bank of South Africa opened its branch in Mumbai in

April 70#7. In 70#7) #0&==% Indian tourists visited South Africa while approD9F%30 South African tourists visited India in 70##.

A 79 Member delegation led by Secretary) Mines) visited ape -own on 3 F1ebruary 70#3 to attend Mining Indaba. A %7 member delegation led by hairman)

Apparel 8Dport 4romotion ouncil visited ape -own on ## #3 March) 70#3 for India lothing and -eDtile -rade Show.

#ulture

ith the help of the Indian ouncil for ultural :elations "I :') anintensive programme of cultural eDchanges is organised throughout South Africaincluding scholarships for South African nationals. In addition to such culturalprogramming) a KShared 6istories 1estival organi,ed as a public privatepartnership is also held) which held its fourth edition in 70#0. -he 1ifth edition of the KShared 6istories 1estival was underway in September 70##. -he SA Minister of Arts ? ulture Mr. 4allo 2ordan visited India in /ecember 700= during which healso inaugurated a major South African art eDhibition. Mrs. Ambika Soni) Minister for -ourism and ulture visited South Africa in August 700F and signed the

4rogramme of ooperation "4 ' in Arts and ulture for 700F 70##. A 1estival of India in South Africa was jointly organi,ed by /epartment of Arts and ultureSouth Africa and 6igh ommission in 4retoria during 2une August 70## ? a1estival of South Africa in India was organi,ed in 1ebruary April 70#3 under the4 . -he $ th orld 6indi onference was held in September 70#7 at2ohannesburg.

I3'#In 1J 70#3 #%) under I-8 ) #00 slots have been allocated to South Africa.

Indian #ommunit7

-he major part of the Indian origin community came to South Africa from#F&0 onwards as farm labour to serve as field hands and mill operatives in thesugar and other agricultural plantations of +atal "which was then a 5ritish colony'.Most of these initial migrants were from -amil +adu and Andhra 4radesh withsome from eastern *4 and 5ihar. A second wave of Indians came after #FF0.-hese were the Lpassenger Indians N so called because they paid their fares as

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passengers on board a steamship bound for South Africa. -his was the communityof traders who mainly hailed from Gujarat.

-oday) the South African Indian origin community numbers around #.9million and constitutes about 3O of South Africas total population. About F0O of

the Indian community lives in the province of Hwa