Thapelo Sakoana
21 August 2007
The president of the Indian National Congress and leader of the ruling Indian Congress Alliance, Sonia Ghandi, is in South Africa on a two-day working visit.
Gandhi will pay courtesy calls on President Thabo Mbeki and former President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
She will also hold discussions with Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, as well as with African National Congress (ANC) leaders led by party deputy president Jacob Zuma at the ANC's headquarters in Johannesburg.
Gandhi will also hold discussions with First Lady Zanele Mbeki, whom she shares a passion for women's development issues. She will then attend the launch of the Jobs for Growth Co-operative Women's Fund, to be hosted by Mlambo-Ngcuka and insurance giant Old Mutual.
She will visit the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg before departing for Cape Town, where she will visit Parliament, address the ANC's parliamentary caucus, and proceed to the Robben Island.
Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) ministerial summit in July.
The IBSA aims to promote closer cooperation between the three countries, particularly in stimulating economic growth and promoting co-ordination on global issues.
In September last year, President Mbeki led a high-level South African delegation to the first IBSA heads of state summit in Brasilia, where a number of trilateral agreements were signed.
The IBSA heads of revenue also signed agreements to avoid double taxation during the course of last year.
South Africa's exports to India are dominated by gold and silver, coal and briquettes, iron and steel, inorganic and organic chemicals, electrical goods, non-ferrous metals, crude fertiliser, pulp and waste paper and petroleum crude.
South Africa's imports from India are dominated by cotton yarn, finished leather goods, machinery and instruments, handmade yarn fabrics, chemicals, spices, rice, handicrafts and handmade carpets.
Source: BuaNews
