In a bid to consolidate political and economic relations between South Africa and India, President Thabo Mbeki will be hosting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Saturday, the department of foreign affairs said.
"South Africa and India share a strategic partnership in developing the agenda of the south and the visit will take place within the context of consolidating south-south relations for increased market and trade access," spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement.
"Trade between South Africa and India continues to grow and in 2005, total bilateral trade approached a level of R14,5-billion, with most imports from India at R7,02-billion and exports to India at R7,5-billion."
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He said India - which ranks as South Africa's 13th most important export and import market - had the largest manufacturing economy in the world, giving it an influential position in the global market South Africa is interested in.
The main Indian products exported to South Africa were motor cars and goods vehicles, rice, medicines, cotton, yarn, finished leather goods, machinery and instruments, handmade yarn fabrics, spices, handicrafts and handmade carpets.
Those imported from South Africa were chemicals, gold, silver, coal and briquettes, iron and steel, inorganic and organic fertiliser, pulp and waste paper, and precious and semiprecious stones.
Since Singh's visit coincides with heritage month, he will also be visiting the Kwazulu-Natal based sites of particular relevance to Mahatma Gandhi.
"Together with the President, Singh will commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Satyagraha philosophy by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa," Mamoepa said.
Satyagraha is the philosophy of non-violent resistance famously employed by Gandhi in forcing the end of the British Raj and also against racial injustice in South Africa.
"The word satyagraha is rooted in Sanskrit, Hindi and Gujarati and is underpinned by three principles: Satya (truth), Ahimsa (refusal to inflict injury on others) and Tapasya (willingness for self-sacrifice)."
Singh will also visit Constitution Hill in Johannesburg and meet with members of the South Africa-India CEO's Forum chaired by Patrice Motsepe and Ratan Tata.
The two leaders will also be discussing outcomes of the 61st session of the United Nations general assembly, African developmental issues, and peace and security in the continent.
"South Africa and India have similar developmental challenges... as a key emerging regional economy, India provides a platform for the re-integration of the South African economy with that of South Asia," Mamoepa said.
Singh is expected to go back to his country on Tuesday, October 3. - Sapa
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