Deputy minister in India to promote SA
INTERNATIONAL Relations and Co-operation Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule used meetings with India’s business sector representatives and think tanks to promote South Africa as a destination for trade, investment and tourism, and to advance the country’s foreign policy objectives. Her official visit to India began on Thursday.
She also attended the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. The dialogue is India’s flagship conference of geopolitics and geoeconomics and attracts high-level participants from all over the world annually.
The theme for this year’s conference is “A World Reorder: New Geometries, Fluid Partnerships, Uncertain Outcomes”.
The African continent received significant focus during the conference and Mhaule utilised the platform to highlight the key issues of South Africa’s foreign policy, including advancing the African agenda, regional integration and peace-building.
Mhaule engaged with her Indian counterpart, the Indian minister of state for external affairs, VK Singh. Their meeting focused on issues of mutual interest, such as further enhancing the trade and commercial relationship, growing foreign direct investment and partnering in areas beneficial for both countries, such as skills exchange.
The two countries share a vision on a range of issues and closely co-operate in multilateral forums such as Brics, Ibsa (India Brazil South Africa Dialogue Forum), G20 and Iora (Indian Ocean Rim Association).
Mumbai used the meetings to promote South Africa as a destination for trade, investment and tourism, and to advance foreign policy objectives.
The two countries enjoy a strategic partnership and bilateral relations are anchored by a shared history of friendship and solidarity. Last year, the two countries celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations. The meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the Brics summit in July served to further emphasise the important nature of the relationship in enhancing the national objectives of both countries. Ramaphosa is also expected to pay a state visit to India later this month.