“This year we are marking 100 years of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India,” said South African Ambassador to India, FK Morule, in his address to delegates at the trade bridge.
“Let us remind ourselves that when he came to South Africa as an innocent lawyer on the invitation of a local Indian lawyer to defend someone in a legal matter, he arrived only to experience racism for the first time. His political consciousness was transformed.
“From an ordinary lawyer, he became a freedom fighter and left these shores to lead in India, becoming the father of that nation. He was a real influence on our own Nelson Mandela, who became the father of this nation.
“Our relationship with India is both historical and political. From the dawn of our freedom, we have had an excellent relationship in terms of trade, industry and tourism.
“I think, premier, that the Free State is leading this country and wish to make it a matter of record that the Free State has taken this relationship with India to a very high level.”
Morule said many agreements have been signed, covering such areas as skills development, and that there are multiple opportunities to engage and expand. “So much to explore.”
Bilateral agreements with India have resulted in trade to the tune of $13-billion and it is both countries’ strategy to reach $18-billion by 2018.
“Our challenge is that our share is lower than India’s and our challenge is to catch up and make the relationship more equitable,” he concluded.