By IANS,
New Delhi : Highlighting its multi-faceted ties with Africa in areas ranging from business to security and UN reforms, India will host two African leaders this week, starting with a visit by Seychelles President James Alix Michel Tuesday, followed by South African President Jacob Zuma the next day.
The two visits will bring to the fore key areas of India’s Africa diplomacy, revolving around the triad of trade, technology and training and increased collaboration on global issues, including UN reforms.
Seychelles President Michel arrives here on a three-day visit Tuesday night. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday on a wide range of bilateral issues, including expanding collaboration in anti-piracy operations.
Security and defence collaboration will be a key focus area of discussions as the Indian Ocean country of Seychelles faces persistent threat of piracy that has adversely affected its tourism-centric economy.
India is also in the process of setting an IT centre, costing around $1 million, in the strategically situated country, said an official.
India has gifted Coast Guard vessels and deputed experts to help Seychelles counter the threat of piracy, Gurjit Singh, joint secretary (East and South Africa), told reporters here.
With nearly 200 top businessmen and more than half a dozen ministers in tow, South African President Jacob Zuma begins his maiden visit to India from Mumbai, the country’s financial hub where he will interact with the Indian business community and push for enhancing trade and investment between the two nations — the largest economies of Asia and Africa.
The two sides are going to re-launch their CEOs forum Thursday in the presence of Zuma and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma.
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.
In a gesture of solidarity with 26/11 victims, Zuma and his wife will stay at the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, which has opened a luxury hotel in Cape Town earlier this year.
“South Africa is one of our key partners in the African continent. We expect warm, cooperative and multifaceted ties to be enhanced during the visit,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters here Tuesday.
Zuma, the charismatic leader of the ruling African National Congress, heads to New Delhi for official talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his delegation Friday. In the discussions, Zuma will be assisted by his ministers of international relations, defence, public enterprises, trade and economy, agriculture, transport and communications.
Manmohan Singh’s delegation will include Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Industry Minister Sharma, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, and Minister of State for IT and Communications Sachin Pilot besides senior officials.
Several agreements spanning diverse sectors are expected to be signed. Around 35 agreements are under consideration, sources said.
The two sides will also discuss steps to ramp up bilateral investment and promotion agreement.
Besides focusing on expanding economic cooperation, including in the fields of energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and tourism, the UN reforms will be an important area of discussion between the two sides. South Africa and India have supported each other’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2011-12.
Manmohan Singh and Zuma last met in Brasilia for the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) summit in April.
Bilateral trade between India and South Africa has multiplied thrice, from $2.5 billion in 2002 to $7.5 billion in 2008-09. Despite the global meltdown, bilateral trade between India and South Africa remained on course last year.
Zuma’s visit to India takes place in the 150th anniversary year of the arrival of Indians in South Africa, home to the largest Indian diaspora. Nearly 1.5 million persons of Indian origin constitute two and a half per cent of the South African population.