PM Modi arrives in Pretoria to strengthen ties with SA

The MoUs were signed at the South Africa-India CEOs Forum on the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit here aimed at further bolstering cooperation on economic, political, social and global areas.

It is believed that, among other things, Indians will be able to apply for 10-year visas, but officials said South Africa was reluctant to relax visa restrictions too much. Such reports have been called inaccurate by the Indian government, which maintains that South Africa was fully supportive of India’s membership of the NSG.

He said his country was keen to strengthen trade with India. “PM pays a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation”, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with photographs.

“Our two countries also share the honour of having produced two liberation icons, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi”, Zuma said.

“We stood together in our common fight against racial subjugation and colonialism”, Modi said.

“History is witness to how Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in South Africa impacted him and the history of the world”. “It was agreed that frequent and sustained contact between South Africa and India in mutually identified areas will serve to maintain the momentum of the bilateral relationship”, the joint statement said.

On trade, Modi said Indian companies have strong business interests in South Africa.

Beyond economic ties, he added, India could also partner with South Africa in the fields of defense and security.

In June this year, the Modi government sent a high-level delegation to Mozambique to explore short and long-term measures to import the commodities on a government-to-government basis.

“India is the next global superpower, and we are all hoping in Africa that India’s demand will provide the next commodities boom for Africa”.

“We also want our partnership to ensure the safety and security of our people”.

“In our discussions today, President Zuma and I reviewed the full spectrum of our engagement. About one-fourth of our investment in Africa are in this country and there is potential to expand our business ties”, Modi told a media conference before a business summit between the two countries in the capital Pretoria.

India is South Africa’s sixth-largest trading partner, with annual trade recording at United States dollars 5.3 billion in 2015-16.

Both the leaders insisted on the importance of fighting racism together.

This visit by Modi will see an increase of business and trade to boost economic ties between the two nations.

“This is a very important visit”, he said.

The nations that are part of his tour include, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

Modi, however, would visit the historic Gandhi settlement in Phoenix, Ela’s former constituency, though for a short tenure. It is truly exceptional and unlike any other. Climate change, and its impact on the world, is our shared concern.