India, South Africa seal three-year strategic programme to boost defence partnership

NEW DELHI: India and South Africa on Friday sealed three-year strategic programme (2019-21) to further boost cooperation in number of key areas including defence and investments after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The strategic programme will cover cooperation in a range of areas including defence and security, trade and investment, the blue economy, tourism, IT and agriculture.

In his media statement, Modi said both sides discussed all aspects of the bilateral ties with an aim to further expand cooperation in diverse areas.


Ramaphosa said his country was looking at a "result-oriented" partnership with India through implementation of the three-year strategic exchange programme.

The South African, who arrived here on Friday morning, will be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade on Saturday. It was the fourth meeting between Modi and Ramaphosa within a year.

The two sides at the summit meet recognized 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.

The two leaders 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.

Ramaphosa agreed to simplify and reform South African business visa regime. Ramaphosa and Modi jointly addressed the India-South Africa Business Forum on January 25, with a focus to grow business ties between the two countries. Ramaphosa also delivered the inaugural IBSA Gandhi-Mandela Freedom Lecture.