Jaishankar holds talks with South African Dy President

South Africa’s Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks focusing on boosting bilateral ties in trade, investments, infrastructure and the digital domain.

In the delegation-level meeting, the two sides also agreed that India and South Africa must work closely in international forums.

The South African deputy president also met Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and discussed various aspects of historical, cultural and people-to-people relations between the two nations.

Mashatile, accompanied by his wife Humile Mashatile and a high-powered delegation comprising five ministers and deputy ministers, is on a six-day visit to India from May 29 with an aim to promote South Africa as a competitive investment destination and to enhance the bilateral trade relations. Following his talks with Jaishankar, Mashatile said both sides agreed that South Africa and India should broadbase their ties, especially in the economic sectors.

“Pleased to meet with Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile@PMashatile of the Republic of South Africa along with his delegation in New Delhi today,” the external affairs minister said on social media.

“Appreciate his strong commitment to deepening our longstanding partnership. Discussed opportunities in trade, investments, MSMEs, digital and infrastructure domains. Also agreed that India and South Africa must work closely in international forums,” he said.

During the meeting with the Vice President, the two leaders held comprehensive discussions aimed at strengthening the longstanding partnership between India and South Africa, the Vice President secretariat said.  Key areas of focus included trade, investment, defence cooperation, skills development, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

The leaders also exchanged views on issues concerning the Global South and discussed expanding cooperation through multilateral platforms such as BRICS, G20, IBSA, and IORA.

Both sides emphasised the importance of unlocking the full potential of bilateral economic relations and creating a favourable environment for businesses and investors.

Vice President Radhakrishnan highlighted the proposed India-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement and expressed hope for the early commencement and successful conclusion of negotiations.

Defence cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions. The leaders welcomed the growing collaboration between the two countries and expressed optimism about future editions of the IBSAMAR Naval Exercise, involving India, Brazil, and South Africa.

The vice president thanked South Africa for its support to India’s Project Cheetah through the transfer of cheetahs.

Citing the programme’s encouraging progress, including successful breeding in the wild, he sought continued South African cooperation in the conservation initiative.

Radhakrishnan also invited South Africa to consider joining India-led global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the International Big Cat Alliance, noting their shared objectives of sustainable development and environmental protection.

Shortly after his meeting with the vice president, Mashatile said: “Together, our nations must continue to leverage on shared values to promote peace, equality, and fairness in global institutions.”

The South African deputy president met a number of businessmen and key political figures, including Rajya Sabha member Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney in the last few days.

Sahney, a former honorary Consul of South Africa to India, hosted a reception for Mashatile and his delegation on Monday evening.

The dinner-cum-interaction was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as well as the secretaries general of FICCI and CII.

During the interaction, Deputy President Mashatile expressed South Africa’s keen desire to conclude the India-SACU (Southern African Customs Union) Free Trade Agreement at the earliest.

He also appreciated India’s historic support for the anti-apartheid movement and highlighted the strong and enduring bonds between the two nations.

Sahney expressed confidence that the India-SACU Free Trade Agreement would be a game changer in further enhancing trade and economic cooperation between India, South Africa, Mozambique, and other neighbouring countries.

He also underscored the significance of India hosting the BRICS summit in September this year and emphasised the importance of South-South cooperation to further strengthen intra-BRICS trade and economic partnerships.

India’s links with the struggle for freedom and justice in South Africa date back to the period during which Mahatma Gandhi started his Satyagraha movement in South Africa over a century ago.

 India and South Africa signed a strategic partnership agreement in March 1997 during the visit to New Delhi of then-President Nelson Mandela.  The year 2023 marked 30 years of re-establishment of diplomatic relations with South Africa.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited South Africa in last November to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. Modi also visited South Africa in August, 2023 to participate in the BRICS summit.

 There has been an upswing in India-South Africa ties in the last few years, including in areas of trade and investment.  Major Indian exports to South Africa include vehicles and components, transport equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, footwear, dyes and intermediates, chemicals, textiles, rice, and gems and jewellery.  The Indian imports from South Africa include gold, steam coal, copper ore, manganese ore, aluminium ingots, and other minerals.