By IANS,
New Delhi : India and South Africa will give a fresh impetus to their growing business ties, re-launching the CEOs forum Thursday in the presence of South African president Jacob Zuma.
The CEOs forum will be re-launched with the signing of the terms of reference by the two chairs of the forum, the commerce ministry said in a statement here.
The forum comprising business bigwigs from both sides will be headed by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata and Patrice Motsepem, executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals.
It will be launched in the presence of Zuma and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma in Mumbai Thursday.
Accompanied by nearly 100 CEOs of top South African companies and senior cabinet ministers, President Zuma begins his maiden visit to India from Mumbai Wednesday.
India’s apex business and industry bodies will be organising an interactive meeting with leaders of the Indian business community in New Delhi Friday.
The two sides are set to focus on expanding economic cooperation across a swathe of areas, including energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and tourism.
Bilateral trade between India and South Africa has multiplied manifold over the last decade, increasing from only $1.3 billion in 2000-01 to $6.27 billion in 2007-08, a growth of 382 percent in seven years.