PRETORIA : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was due today to meet South African President Jacob Zuma on the second leg of an African tour aimed at boosting ties in a region where rival China has a strong presence.
Modi, who arrived from Mozambique, will head on to Tanzania and Kenya on an itinerary aimed at demonstrating India’s engagement in the continent.
“South Africa is an important strategic partner, with whom our ties are historical and deep-rooted,” he said ahead of his arrival in Pretoria.
Modi will attend a thousands-strong Indian diaspora gathering at a stadium in Johannesburg in the evening before visiting Durban, the heart of the Indian community in South Africa, tomorrow.
India’s economic footprint in Africa is dwarfed by that of China, whose trade with the continent topped USD 200 billion last year.
India is gaining ground, however, led by private entrepreneurs with a keen interest in the continent’s burgeoning energy sector.
“China has been far more active for many years than India and this is the start of a much more engaged India on the continent,” Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, of the South African Institute of International Affairs, said.
“India now has Africa in its sights and clearly it’s about building on economic and diplomatic relations that have been around for a long time.”
India is South Africa’s sixth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $5.3 billion in 2015-16.
South Africa has been vocal on the need to reform the UN Security Council, making it a natural ally in India’s long-running campaign to be made a permanent member.
India and Africa are together home to a third of the world’s population, but neither India nor any African country has a permanent seat on the council.
Permanent members are Britain, China, France, Russia and United States. (AGENCIES)
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