Ashwani Kumar meets President Mbeki
5 Aug 2007

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In a meeting with President Mbeki of South Africa at Johannesburg last Friday (August 3), Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Industry extended the greetings of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi. President Mbeki conveyed that he was very much looking forward to having discussions with Smt. Sonia Gandhi during her forthcoming visit to South Africa later this month and with the Prime Minister on his visit to South Africa in October for the next Summit of IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa).

Addressing the India Calling 2007 Conference organized by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber in Johannesburg later in the afternoon, President Mbeki endorsed Dr. Kumar’s perceptions about the need for inclusivist economic growth and the need for remedying the injustices of past centuries. Recalling the impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas on South Africa’s freedom struggle, President Mbeki highlighted the special relationship between India and South Africa and said that India serves as an inspiring example to many South Africans. The emergence of Indian businesses as global players, he said, was an important development in addressing the fracture between the wealthy North and the marginalized South.

President Mbeki urged the Indian business delegation to work with South African counterparts to address the challenges of poverty, inequality and skill development. Closer partnership between India and South Africa, he concluded, would not only benefit the two countries but was of a critical importance to billions of others and to the establishment of a new world order.