India-South Africa India-South Africa 2019

SPECIAL REPORT a focus on growing business ties between the two countries. President Ramaphosa also delivered the inaugural IBSA Gandhi- Mandela Freedom Lecture, in the presence of Prime Minister of India. During the visit, a Three-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2019-2021) was signed by the two sides, aimed at further enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Ramaphosa: • recalled the Strategic Partnership established between India and South Africa through the Red Fort Declaration of March 1997 and the Tshwane Declaration of October 2006. • expressed satisfaction at the deepening and widening of this comprehensive bilateral partnership. • emphasised the need to further deepen relations in the political, economic, defence, scientiﬁ c, consular and socio-cultural spheres. • agreed that the 10th Session of the India- South Africa Joint Ministerial Commission will be held in 2019 in New Delhi, led by the Foreign Ministers of both the countries. • expressed satisfaction at the steady pace of cooperation in the defence sector encompassing a wide range of engagements including defence production, joint collaboration, manufacturing, research and development, training and joint exercises. • recognised the importance of increased bilateral naval cooperation and closer synergy within the context of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) which, by keeping the sea lanes secure against illegal actors, will ensure unhindered passage for trade and continued prosperity of the entire Indian Ocean Region. • acknowledged the increasing engagement between the two navies in recent years which inter alia has translated to increased interactions in maritime operations and training. PM Modi welcomed the participation of the South African National Defence Force in the First Multinational India-Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX) in March 2019 at Pune, India. • welcomed the holding of the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI). Prime Minister Modi congratulated South Africa on becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2019-20 and assured South Africa of India’s support in the performance of its responsibilities in this role. • welcomed the signiﬁ cant investment and presence of a large number of Indian companies and business entities in South Africa and the growing number of South African investments in India. In this regard, agreed to enhance bilateral investments between the two countries within the context of the Memorandum of Understanding between Invest SA and Invest India on enhancing bilateral investment relations. • agreed to cooperate, share best practices, technology and expertise on the Ease of Doing Business Reform Programme. • committed to expanding cooperation in the ﬁ elds of trade and investments between business entities in South Africa and India • agreed to cooperate in the ﬁ eld of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which play an invaluable role in job creation and creating trade and investment opportunities. • acknowled the ﬁ rst India-South Africa Business Summit in South Africa in April 2018 and the Invest in India Business Forum in November 2018, inviting the private sector to invest in key economic sectors of India and South Africa • agreed that both countries should explore solutions aimed at boosting trade and investment. In this context, President Ramaphosa agreed to simplify and reform South African business visa regime. • acknowledged the impressive progress achieved in cooperation in Science and Technology and innovations. • agreed to enhance cooperation in the ﬁ eld of the Oceans Economy and to cooperate in multilateral forums on the Blue Economy including in the framework of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). • expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation in the energy sector, and the potential to expand cooperation in the renewable energy sector as well as oil and gas. • agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of mining, deep mining and mineral beneﬁ ciation. • acknowledged that the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a common platform for cooperation among solar resource-rich countries. India invited South Africa to join the ISA. • agreed to strengthen agriculture and ﬁ sheries cooperation in areas such as crop and India-South Africa • 2019 • 11

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