On June 2, 2010, South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in India to begin his three-day state visit. This was his first visit to India and he was accompanied by a delegation of 200 prominent businessmen. This was also his first visit to an Asian Country. Three pacts were signed during his visit.
Both the countries agreed to support each other’s candidatures for the non-permanent seat for the 2011-2012 term. Both India and South Africa are also in race for permanent birth in the global body.The three agreements were as follows:
Air services Agreement: Two countries have added three stops for all flights including Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa and Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram in India
MoU on cooperation in agriculture
MOU on mutual cooperation in foreign and diplomatic services: Under this agreement, Foreign Services Institute of India and the Diplomatic Academy of South Africa will cooperate to provide for training of the officers.
Fact Box: India South Africa Bilateral Relationships:(Click on the Labels below for more similar articles)
- India and South Africa have close strategic, cultural and economic ties.
- India is largest purchaser of coal from South Africa.
- Indian community in South Africa made a significant contribution to the struggle for civil rights.
- Mahatma Gandhi was in South Africa before he led the Indian Independence Movement and pioneered the non-violent civil disobedience in the struggle of Indian people for civil rights in the 1890s and 1900s. He returned in 1915
- Indians also contributed to the African National Congress's struggle against the Apartheid regime.
- The Indian government was an outspoken critic of the apartheid-era SouthAfrican government, refusing to maintain diplomatic relations.
- The formal diplomatic relations between India and South Africa began after the end of apartheid in 1994.
- India imports approximately 1/3rd of its Gold bullion from South Africa.
- South Africa has promoted signing a free trade agreement with India and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) which includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland along with South Africa.
- South African leader Nelson Mandela was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize by the Indian government.
- On June 6, 2003 India and South Africa signed an agreement with Brazil, known as the Brasilia Declaration, establishing "South-South" cooperation, based on the premise of the three nations being regional powers of South Asia, Southern Africa and South America.
