Hosting the largest diaspora beyond the subcontinent, India’s destiny has long been tied to that of South Africa.   The leadership in both countries post-independence and apartheid have worked to achieve the shared ideal of an equitable society. With Madiba’s death, the existing relations and the way forward have come under the spotlight.

The multi-dimensional involvement of India in South Africa’s evolution, and the latter’s reciprocation of it through diverse channels has always been a formidable phenomenon, and is expected to grow by leaps and bounds. Stronger economic co-operation along with an upswing in healthcare and pharmaceutical ventures bode well for a profitable collaboration for both countries.

Current Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, forecast that both countries will flourish economically. Former Indian President Pratibha Patil showed unequivocal confidence in attaining the ambitious objective of the two nations successfully reaching the previous trade target of USD 10 billion by 2012. Corroborating a similar vision of achieving a trade target of USD 15 billion by 2015, the present leaders of the two states predict exponential growth in the industrial, manufacturing and energy sectors.

The repertoire of prominent Indian companies investing in South Africa includes the likes of Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Bank of Baroda, Godrej, Marico, Apollo Tyres and Cipla Medpro, amongst many other companies, with wide-ranging profiles. In the post-Mandela regime, the South African government has also been keen to involve India in its ambitious infrastructure development plan.

The alliance extends beyond the joint initiative for liberation, traditional boundaries of monetary treatises, company investments and financial transactions.  India and South Africa have strikingly similar objectives, be it business or cultural objectives.

In 2003, India, South Africa and Brazil joined hands and formed the IBSA Dialogue Forum after the G8 summit that encourages dynamic tripartite development in diverse spheres of agriculture, technology, poverty issues and similar matters of concern, such as health-care and nuclear energy policies. Today both countries are also members of the formidable BRlCS formation. Through such partnerships, India and South Africa – and other likeminded countries of the south are actively working for the holistic reformation of the global political and financial architecture.

On the lighter side, the entertainment sector has always enjoyed immense popularity in South Africa, with the latter offering their exotic landscapes for shooting movies. South Africa looks forward to making film-making a more memorable experience for the Indian industry.

Jacob Zuma’s era promises to carry forward Madiba’s legacy, extending more opportunities for establishing a stronger relationship between our countries. South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies consider the current bilateral trade target to be a very attainable one; simultaneously the focus is also directed towards key areas of science, technology and education. Cultural exchange programmes, maritime co-operation and increasing participation in peacekeeping operations are some of the trajectories that would be followed. There is hope that India would be able to aid the development of more small-scale companies, fostering excellent economic ties in South Africa.

Post the declaration of the ‘strategic partnership’ in 1993, India has maintained its position in the South African trade circuit as one of the largest investors. The future augurs well for many fruitful co-operation agreements, escalating interest in other business verticals, establishing Information Technology firms, and mutually beneficial associations. The symbiosis between India and South Africa is expected to become more powerful and valuable to the developmental agenda of both countries under Jacob Zuma’s regime, and the future seems to be brighter than ever before.

Source : Lokesh Shastri