BENGALURU: Consul General of South Africa in Mumbai, Gedion Labane, who was in Bengaluru recently, expressed confidence in bilateral ties between the two nations, and revealed that there was a possibility of an India-South Africa conclave being held soon to fortify the two countries’ ties further.
Labane was speaking at a press conference held by AP Globale, a business conglomerate, to announce the second edition of the Global Impact Forum (GIF). The international forum for cross-cultural exchange is scheduled to take place on September 5 and 6 in Mumbai, strategically preceding the BRICS Summit by a week.
“India and South Africa have Gandhi and Mandela as our leaders. Their legacies transcend time, because they demonstrate the power of inclusive societies. India was one of the loudest voices at the United Nations during the apartheid regime in South Africa, and since then, our ties have only deepened,” said Labane, who also alluded to the fact that about 3% of South Africa’s current population is constituted by Indian nationals.
The Consul General also underlined the trade relationships between the two countries, especially with regards to Karnataka. “South Africa’s soil is home to critical minerals, without whose import industries in Bengaluru and the rest of the country cannot function,” he said. The second edition of GIF is being positioned as a stage of cultural “soft” power before the more concrete geopolitical discussions scheduled to be held at the BRICS Summit.