Page 32 - Diplomatists Nov

Improved bilateral cooperation between New
Delhi and Pretoria is especially evident in the
economic and defence sectors. India is South

Africa’s fifth-largest trading partner, and South
Africa is India’s second-largest trading partner
in Sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria. As of 2019,
trade between the two countries totalled over
USD 10bilion; this is a significant increase from

INDIA-SOUTH AFRICA: USD500million in 2001. In 2016, both countries
committed to setting a target of doubling trade and
A SUCCESS STORY OF investment to USD 20billion by 2021. However,
due to COVID-19, which has had a signifi cant
BILATERAL COOPERATION impact on the global economy, India and South
Africa are likely to fall short of achieving this goal.
Approximately 140 Indian companies invested
BY MANDIRA BAGWANDEEN* close to USD 4 billion in South Africa as of 2018,
creating employment for over 18,000 people.
Indian companies have primarily invested in South
Africa’s mining, pharmaceuticals, automotive,

ince the end of apartheid in 1994, relations financial services, and ICT sectors. South Africa is
Sbetween South Africa and India have grown the third-largest African investor in India; in 2014,
from strength to strength. Although, historical links the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) stock
against colonialism and racism served to forge a in India was approximately USD 112million.
bond between the two countries, today the India- Engagements between India and South Africa,

South Africa relationship is typified by shared especially in the economic and defence sectors,
political, economic, and strategic interests in which demonstrate that the India-South Africa relationship
both countries seek win-win engagements. has grown in leaps and bounds, beyond mere
Due to South Africa’s apartheid government, commonalities in their struggles for freedom from
bilateral relations between New Delhi and Pretoria oppression. Both value each other as development
remained strained for over four decades. Since the partners and their unique and multifaceted
re-establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993, relationship serves as an example for global south
cooperation between India and South Africa has cooperation. Looking forward, as countries seek to
deepened and advanced on various fronts including navigate a COVID-19 world, both India and South
politics, trade and investment, minerals and energy, Africa are likely to draw on their strong bond and
communication and technology (ICT), security, tag-team in international platforms to champion
agriculture, arts and culture, sports and recreation, the developing world. This was already evidenced
human resource development, and consular and recently, in October, at the WTO when India and
immigration issues. On a multilateral level, the two South Africa submitted a landmark proposal to
countries believe that international “institutions make COVID-19 medication, equipment, and
must [reform] to reflect the shifts in political vaccines more accessible to developing countries.
and economic power.” This shared outlook has If this proposal is approved, not only will it
encouraged teamwork between India and South reinforce the bond between the two countries, but
Africa in international organisations such as the also bolster their status as emerging powers.
World Trade Organisation (WTO), the UN, the
Group of 20 (G20); as well as, more exclusive *Author is a PhD candidate at the University
groupings such as the India-Brazil-South Africa of Cape Town, in South Africa, and a Research
Dialogue Forum (IBSA), the Brazil-Russia-India- Associate at the Fondation pour la recherche
China-South Africa (BRICS) platform, and the stratégique (Foundation for Strategic Research),
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). a think tank in France.

32 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 8 • Issue 9 • November 2020, Noida