India

16 August 2023

Road closures ahead of BRICS Summit

Location: News

Road closures ahead of BRICS Summit

With South Africa hosting the 15th Summit of BRICS nations next week, roads near the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg will be closed.

Motorists have been advised that the roads will be closed from this Sunday, 20 August 2023 until 26 August 2023.

The following roads will be closed:

Maude Street - one-way traffic from 5th Street to West Street.
West Street - lanes closest to the convention centre will be closed. The lanes furthest away will be open for traffic.
Alice Lane - lanes closest to the convention centre will be closed. The lanes furthest away will be open for traffic.
5th Street - lanes closest to the convention centre will be closed. The lanes furthest away will be open for traffic.

“The community is requested to be aware of the impact to routes during the Summit and follow traffic updates when travelling around the Sandton Convention Centre. As can be expected, there will be significant security presence around the Sandton CBD for the duration of the summit,” the Gauteng Police Board Initiative said on Tuesday.

South Africa is hosting the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit that will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 22 to 24 August. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Wed, 08/16/2023 - 09:23

80 views

15 August 2023

It is all systems depart for the start of the 15th BRICS Summit

Location: News

It is all systems go for the start of the 15th BRICS Summit

By Michael Currin

It is Women’s Month and Government is delighted to be hosting an important group of leading emerging markets and developing countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa for the 15th edition of the BRICS Summit. Together BRICS has around 42% of the world's population, 27% of global GDP and around 20% of international trade.

It is our third time hosting this important event as a country and South Africa is privileged to be the chair of BRICS this year.

Our theme is "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism." This theme reflects our vision of BRICS providing global leadership in addressing the needs and concerns of the majority of the world, namely beneficial economic growth, sustainable development and inclusion of the global South in multilateral systems.

This theme also reflects our belief in the benefits a partnership with Africa can bring to BRICS, with our partners eager to explore opportunities to support, and benefit from, operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Since January 2023, we have held a large number of meetings across all three pillars of cooperation, namely:

1. Political and security,

2. Economic and financial; and

3. Social and people-to-people cooperation.

GCIS has supported various Ministerial meetings held to precede BRICS across all provinces. Our Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni hosted a Friends of BRICS National Security Advisors Meeting with her BRICS Security counterparts, in Sandton, on 24 July 2023.

The Friends of BRICS is a combination of countries who have expressed an interest in joining BRICS, those who chair prominent institutions of the Global South and those invited as per the Chair’s prerogative and henceforth invited as per the consensus reached between the host and fellow BRICS members. The Friends of BRICS countries who attended this meeting are Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Various other meetings took place headed by various Ministers such as the BRICS Foreign Ministers, the BRICS Civil Forum, BRICS Ministers of Communication, the BRICS Youth Forum, the BRICS Urbanisation, BRICS Ministers of Health, and BRICS Ministers of Science and Innovation have all concluded their meetings.

Cabinet has encouraged BRICS meetings to be held in different towns and cities so that our guests have a wide range of experience of our beautiful country. It is also important that the tangible economic benefits of hosting our BRICS partners are experienced in a variety of communities.

All these activities build up to the XVth BRICS Summit which will provide an opportunity for BRICS Leaders to reflect on all the elements of BRICS cooperation. The XVth BRICS Summit will also provide an opportunity to amplify the voices of our friends in Africa and the global South with the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogues.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed South Africa’s readiness to host the XVth BRICS Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg and we are running a countdown to hype the upcoming activities of the Summit. South Africa Chairs BRICS in a dynamic global environment where the eyes of the world are on us.

Leading up to the Summit, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the BRICS Business Council will be hosting a content-rich BRICS Business Programme from 19 to 23 August which seeks to foster economic growth, promote collaboration, attract investment, and showcase opportunities within South Africa, Africa and BRICS countries.

All the BRICS Business Councils are bringing large business delegations to South Africa. As an outcome of South Africa's Chairing of BRICS in 2013, the BRICS Business Council celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2023 and we look forward to the celebrations as well as the outcomes of the review of the work of the Council in its first ten years.

The BRICS Summit programme

The first event on the BRICS Leaders' programme is the BRICS Business Forum Leaders Dialogue on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 August. The Leaders will get a report on the outcomes of the deliberations during the BRICS Business Forum and will deliver statements reflecting on BRICS economic relations.

Following the Business Forum, the Leaders move to a quieter venue for the BRICS Leaders Retreat. This is a signature event of South Africa as BRICS Chair. Leaders meet in a comfortable setting in a private venue for an unscripted discussion of contemporary issues of importance. There is no set agenda and Leaders can initiate a discussion on issues of choice such as BRICS membership expansion, reform of global governance, or use of local currencies.

On 23 August, the XVth BRICS Summit continues with a closed plenary followed by an open plenary session.

The BRICS Leaders will deliver national statements which will be followed by reports by the President of the New Development Bank, the South African Chair of the BRICS Business Council and the South African Chair of the BRICS Women's Business Alliance.

It is befitting during Women’s month to re-emphasise my focus on the BRICS Women's Business (WBA) Alliance. This will be the first in-person engagement with BRICS Leaders as it was established in 2020 under the Chairship of Russia during the height of the pandemic. This Alliance aims to empower and advance women entrepreneurs in BRICS to create a vibrant network in partnership with others that facilitates knowledge-sharing, skills development, and business opportunities for women across diverse sectors and industries.

Their flagship meeting is the BRICS-Africa WBA Trade Conference to be held in Durban from 20 to 21 August which brings together over 500 women-owned businesses, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, from BRICS and Africa. The conference will include the first in-person joint meeting of BRICS WBA national chapters and develop recommendations to be presented to BRICS Leaders at the Summit.

Following the reports from the New Development Bank, BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women's Business Alliance, the Summit is expected to adopt the eGoli Declaration as the main outcome document of the 2023 BRICS Leaders’ Summit.

South Africa is also pleased to welcome the first meeting of Ministers responsible for Women Affairs as an important step in mainstreaming women's issues across all areas of BRICS cooperation.

This is also a concrete step forward in addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. As a partnership, BRICS operates on the principles of openness, solidarity, mutual respect and understanding as well as mutually beneficial cooperation that is seen to deliver tangible benefits.

The XVth BRICS Summit is the venue and occasion for the voices of BRICS, Africa and the global South to converge and be heard. We meet to reflect on the status of cooperation, to consider regional and global developments and to assess the status of global governance reform.

The Summit is not the final event of South Africa as Chair of BRICS. We continue our programme of mutually beneficial cooperation until the end of 2023.

We look forward to further meetings including the Ministers for Disaster Management, Ministers of Tourism, possible Ministers of Transport meeting, the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, the Foreign Policy Dialogue, Young Diplomats and the first workshop on incident management later in the year. We particularly look forward to the return of the BRICS Games in October.

We are confident that we will leave 2023 having strengthened the BRICS partnership and having delivered benefits to the people of South Africa, BRICS, Africa and the global South.

Government calls on South Africans to continue to extend the warmest of South African welcomes to the many official delegates, businesspeople, media and civil society who will arrive from various parts of the continent and the world shortly for the Summit.

*Michael Currin is the Deputy Director-General of Intergovernmental Coordination and Stakeholder Management (ICSM) at Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

Janine
Tue, 08/15/2023 - 09:39

289 views

14 August 2023

Dtic gears up for BRICS Trade Honest

Location: News

Dtic gears up for BRICS Trade Fair

The Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand will be a hive of activity when the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) and the South African BRICS Business Council host the BRICS Trade Fair.

The fair will run from 19 - 23 August 2023 ahead of the highly-anticipated 15th BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] Summit in Sandton.

The fair will be officially opened by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, together with his BRICS counterparts on 19 August.

The exhibition will serve as a platform for showcasing products and services from the BRICS countries, as well as business-to-business interaction aimed at increasing intra-BRICS trade and investment.

The fair and the BRICS Business Council Programme will include a series of sectoral sessions that will include, among others:

• Energy Cooperation Forum;

• Accelerating Infrastructure Development through Government Business/Private Partnerships;

• Embracing the Digital Economy for Transformation and Advancement;

• BRICS Dialogue on Airlift Strategy;

• Importance of Skills for Emerging and Future Jobs;

• DFI Funding Instruments;

• The BRICS Manufacturing Forum;

• Oceans Economy High Level Dialogue;

• BRICS Dialogue on Airlift Strategy;

• Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR) - Side Event and

• Africa’s Economic Place in the BRICS Alliance, which will be hosted by the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA).

The fair will be a platform to showcase proudly South African products and services from companies and institutions from South Africa and the rest of Africa, as well as Brazil, Russia, India and China.

These companies and institutions are from sectors such as agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, automotives, pharmaceuticals, energy and energy infrastructure.

South Africa, as Chair of BRICS, will host the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 22 - 24 August 2023, under the theme, 'BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism'.

The summit will be preceded by the Inward Buying and Investment Missions from Brazil, Russia, India and China, which will take place in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal from 13 - 23 August 2023, and the BRICS Business Forum at the Sandton Convention Centre on 22 August 2023. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 08/14/2023 - 13:25

275 views

14 August 2023

BRICS Summit to boost Gauteng economy

Location: News

BRICS Summit to boost Gauteng economy

The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) has lauded the upcoming BRICS Summit as a significant opportunity to create jobs and boost tourism revenue for the province.

The BRICS Summit brings together governments and their leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

“There is no doubt that many sectors will be positively impacted from accommodation, transportation, food, security, logistics and hospitality establishments, with the majority of them already fully booked. We are excited by the prospects of our visitors and delegates immersing themselves in our food and culinary experiences,” the GTA said.

According to the GTA, this year’s summit brings together Heads of State and from the BRICS countries, ministers, government officials and support staff, as well as “at least 25 other countries represented by their Presidents and ministers”.

“Recent reports have also indicated that more than 40 countries have expressed their interest in joining BRICS, so we can expect many more representatives from countries in the global South to make their way to Johannesburg. Add to this the various observers, business leaders, analysts and civil organisations and members of the media, both local and international, makes up the impressive numbers.

“All these people will be sleeping in the province, eating at the various venues and establishments, buying local products, interacting with our communities, and immersing themselves in our culture and way of life. These are the direct ripple effects of tourism and a growing visitor economy. It is more than just a conference or meeting room. It is social currency in action,” the GTA said.

The authority highlighted that the business, tourism, trade and investment activities expected to take place over the duration of the summit will bring business to the business tourism orientated wing of the sector.

“The formal sessions of this important gathering are expected to be spread across the major economic and business event nodes of the city region with Sandton City, Gallagher Convention Centre, Birchwood and Montecasino, amongst others, playing host.

“This bodes well for the visitor economy and business events sector in the province, as these types of high-profile events generate the much needed jobs and tourism revenue into the economy,” the GTA said.

The authority emphasised that the summit will bring in much needed impetus to the province’s economic recovery efforts for the present and the future.

“The summit comes at a time when the country has shown an impressive 46.5% rise in foreign tourist arrivals when comparing June 2023 to the same period last year, as reported by Statistics SA. A quick glance at these numbers also shows that business travellers tend to stay longer and spend more, with African travellers leading the pack.

“It is for this reason that the GTA, who is the key driver of tourism business growth initiatives in the province, is pulling out all the stops to ensure that this period showcases the best of Gauteng’s attractions to global and local visitors alike.

“For the GTA and many businesses in the province that rely on tourism activities and increased visitors into the province, the summit is not only about the BRICS delegates who will be here, but also potentially future visits from repeat visitors once they have tasted the unique attractions that Gauteng has to offer,” the authority said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Mon, 08/14/2023 - 13:30

52 views

14 August 2023

BRICS Ministers sign declaration on agriculture

Location: News

BRICS Ministers sign declaration on agriculture

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, has welcomed the signing of the Joint Declaration of the 13th Meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Ministers of Agriculture.

The Declaration outlines areas of collaboration, cooperation and agreement on various interventions among BRICS member countries on agriculture.

These include reducing the impact of climate change on agriculture and food production; ensuring access to food for the most vulnerable; agriculture trade and investment; enhancing agricultural technology cooperation and innovation, and strengthening exchange of agricultural information.

“On climate change, the BRICS Ministers of Agriculture called for the provision of means of implementation for developing countries to enable them to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on food security by enhancing the adaptive capacity and resilience of people, food, and agriculture production systems.

“They further resolved to advocate for joined efforts among BRICS member countries to address climate change impacts on agriculture. The Ministers also support the adoption of agricultural best practices that align with internationally agreed goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said on Monday.

The Ministers noted that the challenges to achieve food security and nutrition are multi-sectoral and multidimensional. They emphasized the need for a collaborative approach among the BRICS countries in ensuring access to food for all.

In addition, they acknowledged the significance of food and nutrition security programmes, including food safety nets to reduce hunger and malnutrition among women, youth, children, older people, and persons with disabilities.

The declaration was signed last week at the conclusion of a four-day gathering of the BRICS Ministers of Agriculture in Mookgopong in Limpopo, South Africa.

Over the gathering (8 - 12 August), delegates from BRICS deliberated on various challenges under the theme, 'Strengthening collaboration towards sustainable agricultural production and increasing productivity'.

On agriculture and rural development, the Ministers committed to accelerate existing national agriculture and rural development programmes and initiatives, with a focus on revitalising rural economies, and attracting public and private investment, while fostering skills development.

“The Ministers also support the reform of the global agricultural trade system through measures that support developing economies.

“Furthermore, the Ministers encouraged policies enhancing open, free and fair agricultural trade, and encouraged the removal of unjustified trade restrictions,” the department said.

The full declaration can be accessed on the DALRRD website: www.dalrrd.gov.za. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Mon, 08/14/2023 - 11:59

175 views

10 August 2023

SA ready to host BRICS Summit

Location: News

SA ready to host BRICS Summit

It's all systems go for the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg later this month.

Taking place from 22 to 24 August, government has indicated that it has concluded the BRICS outreach programmes for various sectors and communities.

“Cabinet was apprised that it is all systems go in terms of South Africa’s readiness to host the 15th BRICS Summit. The last of the BRICS Ministerial Meetings – the BRICS Ministers of Agriculture Meeting – is currently underway, while the Ministerial Meetings of Foreign Affairs, Security, Trade, Industry, Education, Science, Labour, Communications, Health, and Urbanisation Forum have concluded their reports for the Leaders’ Summit.

“These engagements provided governments, organisations, experts and academics from the BRICS nations an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest that will enable informed decision-making during the BRICS Summit,” Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday.

She was addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

Russia-Africa Summit

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently held a bilateral meeting and discussed opportunities to increase trade between the two countries, and for the Russian Federation to increase investments in South Africa.

This meeting took place during the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, on 27 and 28 July 2023. Ramaphosa was amongst other African leaders who attended the summit.

“This summit adopted the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan, which focuses on strengthening cooperation in areas of politics and security, economics, humanitarian matters, and interests of mutual benefit and prosperity.

“On the sidelines of the summit, African Heads of State and Government, who are part of the African Peace Initiative on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, held follow-up talks with President Putin on the previously discussed confidence-building measures that will create conditions for a negotiated settlement to ending the war,” Ntshavheni said.

Security in Niger

Cabinet also has noted the impact the security situation in Niger is having on air travel between South Africa/Southern Africa and Western Europe, with negative implications for business and individuals alike and the airline industry, which is just starting to recover from the devastating ravages of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Cabinet reiterated government’s condemnation of the coup in Niger and the call for the speedy restoration of a democratic order, and also noted the initiative to restore normality under the Economic Community of West African States,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 08/10/2023 - 11:47

4 August 2023

Phaahla calls on BRICS to not let guard down against COVID-19

Location: News

Phaahla calls on BRICS to not let guard down against COVID-19

While the world is no longer living in a COVID-19 pandemic crisis mode, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has warned BRICS leaders that they cannot afford to let their guard down.

“This virus will still unfortunately continue to cause havoc in our population and in our economy,” he cautioned on Friday.

“We just need to make sure that we are tracking the virus because it will continue to evolve and pose risk in our societies.”

However, he said he was hopeful that the leaders now have the tools and the political will in place to ensure that future waves do not result in more severe diseases and deaths.

Phaahla, together with Health Ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, and China were speaking at the adoption of the declaration of the 13th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting.

Today marked the last day of BRICS health events currently underway at the Durban International Convention Centre in the run-up to the 15th BRICS Summit in August 2023.

The 13th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting was taking place under the ‘Bridging the Gap on Sustainable Health on the Road to Universal Health Coverage 2023’ theme.

The Minister said the bloc partnership has a significant role to play in surveillance, preparedness, and developing health mechanisms to confront pandemics.

Universal health coverage (UHC)

He said over the last decade, the BRICS countries have committed to substantial health-system reforms designed to improve equity in service use, quality, and financial protection, with the ultimate goal of achieving UHC.

Last month, the National Assembly passed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill paving the way for universal healthcare, bringing it a step closer to being signed into law and being rolled out.

“This is one of the most revolutionary bills ever passed by the National Assembly since the dawn of our democracy in 1994,” he told delegates.

UHC, he said is undoubtedly the cornerstone to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, on good health and well-being.

“We have an opportunity to make our voices heard as BRICS countries building on our hard negotiated and agreed goals towards universal health agenda.”

He believes that the BRICS nations are a force to be reckoned with, as they carry a great number of the world's population of underprivileged societies.

“So we should leverage our involvement in the G20 to push the global health agenda and related areas for ensuring global health security.”

He also acknowledged that there is still a lot to be done to ensure access and equity to safe and essential medical products for people, especially in developing countries.

Vaccines
Phaahla also touched on the equitable distribution of vaccines and expeditious vaccination, to fill the immunisation gap globally.

“We should, therefore, remain focused on discussions on the importance of the World Trade Organisation on relevant intellectual property waiver proposals, as well as capacity building and strengthening local production of vaccines and other health tools, especially in developing countries,” he stressed, adding that mNRA hubs should be supported.

Phaahla said the leaders have also agreed that they should jointly take proactive and effective measures to prevent and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission of infectious diseases and contribute to improving global health.

Public health emergencies

This year, he said they also added a BRICS Network of Public Health Emergency Centres (PHEOC), serving as nerve centres for preparation and response to public health emergencies.

“This is especially critical as we reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic response and aim to build back better for future outbreaks and pandemics.

“The effective coordination and improved control of outbreaks as evidenced by shorter times from detection to response that a functional PHEOC is valuable in the prompt containment of infectious disease outbreaks in all countries.”

He said the medicines regulatory authorities were also ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation.

He said this was a significant step towards realising the objective to work together in the field of medical products regulation.

This, according to Phaahla, will also enable the nations to share regulatory experience and best practices.

It will also enable them to exchange experts for capacity building as well as facilitate the regulatory landscape to promote research and development and adaptation through technology transfer of innovative medical products.

These include drugs, vaccines, medical technologies, and anti-microbial resistance. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Fri, 08/04/2023 - 12:19

4 August 2023

Nzimande calls on BRICS partners to invest in science, innovation

Location: News

Nzimande calls on BRICS partners to invest in science, innovation

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called on his partners from BRICS to develop science and innovation capacities across Africa for the creation of a better future for all.

Nzimande was speaking on Friday at the 2023 BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China and South Africa) Ministerial Meeting on Science and Innovation in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.

He told his counterparts from Brazil, Russia, India and China that one of the strategic objectives of the annual ministerial meeting is to provide an opportunity for a high-level exchange on science, technology, and innovation policy.

The platform is to also share information on priority investment areas, as well as national progress in the implementation of BRICS partnership initiatives.

He told delegates that in 2022, the country witnessed a historic milestone in science policy development with the adoption of the Decadal Plan.

The Decadal Plan, approved by Cabinet, focuses on growing South Africa by finding sources of new economic growth for a re-industrialised and modern economy.

“Although prepared by my department, it is not only a plan for the Department of Science and Innovation, or for government alone, but for all of South Africa,” he said.

The plan also seeks to put science, technology, and innovation at the heart of South Africa’s growth and development agenda.

Meanwhile, the Innovation and Skills Compact will undertake amongst others a regulatory reform to create a more enabling policy environment for innovation in South Africa.

It will also forge a closer collaboration between higher education and training bodies, and employers, to ensure that skills development better corresponds to the needs of the economy.

“Our plan does not identify priorities [of] scientific disciplines or technology platforms in their own right, but instead focus on the collective and holistic response of South African science and innovation on key societal challenges confronting South Africa.

“This approach notably foresees a central role by the social sciences and humanities, which remains a priority investment area.”

He also touched on the strengthening BRICS collaboration, namely vaccine manufacturing, the hydrogen economy, and the marine sciences.

“The Decadal Plan proposes a new dedicated programme on innovation for a healthy South African population.

“This programme will focus on both physical and mental health; build on our existing successes in for example the fight against infectious diseases such as HIV-AIDS, while also reinforcing our pandemic preparedness.”

The Minister said developing South Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities will be a priority investment area.

“Our objective is to develop a viable local vaccine manufacturing industry in South Africa, which will notably address African concerns regarding the security of supply.”

The plan will also zoom into energy security as a priority, which has led to the implementation of South Africa’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap.

The roadmap also seeks to exploit South Africa’s unique comparative advantage, the endowment of 75% of global platinum metals group reserves.

“We have made excellent progress in developing new hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and are keen to join forces with BRICS partners in this enterprise.

“Opportunities abound in areas such as the decarbonisation of transport and the production of green hydrogen, including as part of a dedicated Platinum Valley, spatial and economic development initiative.”

Nzimande said the country is also committed to the marine sciences and the development of a blue economy.

He explained that cooperation with partners in the Global South and strengthening multilateralism and solidarity through our BRICS science, technology, and innovation partnership is a priority of the highest order.

“I, therefore, have every confidence that our BRICS partners will join us in an effort, within the spirit of generosity President Mandela spoke about, to also develop science and innovation capacities across Africa. This will be a lasting contribution of our shared objective to creating a better future for all, ensuring no one is left behind.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Fri, 08/04/2023 - 13:50

3 August 2023

Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi speaks with President of South Africa

Location: News

Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with His Excellency, Mr. Matemela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.

The two leaders positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation, including in the context of the thirtieth anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations being celebrated in 2023.

President Ramaphosa invited PM for the BRICS Summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24, 2023 and briefed him on the preparations for the same. PM accepted the invitation and conveyed that he looked forward to his visit to Johannesburg to participate in the Summit.

They also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest.

President Ramaphosa conveyed his full support to India's initiatives as part of its ongoing G-20 Presidency and said that he looked forward to visiting India to attend the G-20 Summit.

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.

26 July 2023

Shri Prabhat Kumar appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of South Africa

Location: News

Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India
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Shri Prabhat Kumar (IFS:1991), presently Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of South Africa.

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.