India-South Africa India-South Africa 2019 | Seite 31

SPECIAL REPORT
from various African states. 3 Both the ITEC
and the ICCR Scholarship Scheme are
symbolic of India’s role and contribution to
South-South cooperation which is a key pillar
of its foreign policy and diplomacy.
Within the framework of the agreement
on scientifi c and technological cooperation
signed between South Africa and India in
1995, and renewed in 2015, researchers
(from both nations) are called upon to
contribute to scientific advancement in
both countries. Researchers are encouraged
to engage in joint research activities and
contribute meaningfully to research capacity
development. In this regard, Indian scientists
are playing a key role in the design and
development of the impressive Square
Kilometre Array (SKA) project, a multi-
radio telescope project to be built in Australia
and South Africa. In July 2018, the South
African National Space Agency (Sansa)
and the Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) formalised their partnership by
signing a MoU. As directed by the initiative,
the two agencies are to engage mutually in
joint projects and research. Through this
arrangement, Sansa hopes to benefi t from
the experiences and knowledge of its Indian
counterpart.
As of October 2015, 74 joint research
projects have been undertaken in areas
such as biotechnology, information science,
astronomy, food science technologies for rural
applications, indigenous knowledge systems,
nanotechnology, and renewable energy and
more than 220 South African researchers
have received funding from the government
of India. 4 Furthermore, India has sanctioned
research projects worth Rs 122.7million to
South Africa. 5
Recently, South Africa’s newly appointed
president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was welcomed as
the Chief Guest for India’s 70th Republic Day
celebrations on 26 January 2019 – this honour
was previously given to Nelson Mandela in
1995. Ramaphosa’s trip to India signalled
a rejuvenation in relations between the two
countries. A three-year strategic programme
of co-operation was signed by South African
and Indian officials to further enhance
cooperation between the two countries. In
addition, Ramaphosa acknowledged India’s
Ramaphosa’s trip
to India signalled
a rejuvenation in
relations between
the two countries. A
three-year strategic
programme of co-
operation was signed
by South African
and Indian offi cials
to further enhance
cooperation between
the two countries.
contribution to the higher education of South
African youth and expressed his appreciation.
Furthermore, both Prime Mister Narendra
Modi and Ramaphosa agreed to conclude a
MoU on co-operation in higher education.
Modi also expressed that India is a partner
in South Africa’s skills development and
mentioned that the Gandhi-Mandela Skills
Institute will be “established soon” in Pretoria.
This will further enhance India’s education
and capacity building eff orts in South Africa.
India’s engagement with South Africa
in education and capacity building draws
from its own experience and demonstrates
how much New Delhi values education and
skills programmes as a tool of advancing
social upliftment and achieving economic
development. This echoes Mandela’s passion
for education as a key to development. He
once said, “no country can really develop
unless its citizens are educated.” Education
and skills development are central to India’s
cooperation with South Africa. Through the
advancement of skills and technologies, it is
expected that the subsequent socio-economic
development will generate jobs and attract
foreign investment. As such, continued
cooperation is anticipated to create mutually
benefi cial and collaborative business ventures
for South African and Indian companies. 
References:
1 Source: https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-
news/golden-opportunity-to-apply-for-free-
indian-training-programme-18462270
2 Source: http://kzntopbusiness.co.za/site/
businessfi t/view/5847/4388/2017/06/05/In-
dia__Study_Schemes_and_Capacity_Build-
ing
3 Source: http://www.iccr.gov.in/content/
africa-scholarships
4 Source: https://www.mea.gov.in/in-
focus-article.htm?25947/IndiaAfrica+coop
eration+in+science+and+Technology++C
apacity+Building
5 Source: https://www.mea.gov.in/in-
focus-article.htm?25947/IndiaAfrica+coop
eration+in+science+and+Technology++C
apacity+Building
* The author is a Ph.D. Candidate,
University of Cape Town, South Africa and
an independent researcher and analyst
India-South Africa • 2019 • 31