Establishment of Relations	1993
Brief History	India’s relations with South Africa date back several centuries. India was at the forefront of the international community in its support to the antiapartheid movement; it was the first country to sever trade relations with the apartheid Government (in 1946) and subsequently imposed a complete – diplomatic, commercial, cultural and sports – embargo on South Africa. India worked consistently to put the issue of apartheid on the agenda of the UN, NAM and other multilateral organizations and for the imposition of comprehensive international sanctions against South Africa. The ANC maintained a representative office in New Delhi from the 1960s onwards. India actively worked for the AFRICA Fund to help sustain the struggle through support to the frontline states. India’s relations with South Africa were restored after a gap of over four decades with the opening of a Cultural Centre in Johannesburg in May 1993. Diplomatic and consular relations with South Africa were restored in November 1993 during the visit of the then South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha to India. A Consulate General was thereafter established in Johannesburg. The Indian High Commission in Pretoria was opened in May 1994, followed by the opening of the Consulate General in Durban the same month. Since Parliament in South Africa meets in Cape Town, a permanent office of the High Commission was opened there in 1996, which has been re-designated as Consulate General of India with effect from January 2011. In addition to its High Commission in Delhi, South Africa has a Consulate General in Mumbai.
Key Visits (President, VP, PM)	Prime Minister’s Visits:   7–09 July 2016 23-27 July 2018
Main Treaties and Agreements
MoUs	Memorandum of Understanding on ICT 2016 Programme of Cooperation in Arts and Culture 2016 MoU on Tourism 2016 MoU on Grass Root Innovation (S&T)2016Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India and the Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa on Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education. 2018Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of India regarding the Setting up of the “Gandhi Mandela Centre of Specialisation for Artisan Skills” in South Africa. 2018Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Space Research Organisation and the South African National Space Agency on Cooperation in the Exploration and uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. 2018
Working Groups	India-South Africa Joint Ministerial Commission India-South Africa Foreign Office Consultations India South Africa CEO Forum
Bilateral Trade – Last Three years	Total Trade: 2017-18- 10,659.91 USD Million 2016-17 – 9,379.71 USD Million 2015-16 – 9,536.48  USD Million 2014-15-  11,798.51 USD Million Major Imports:   gold, steam coal, copper ores & concentrates,phosphoric acid, manganese ore, aluminium ingots & other minerals Major Exports: vehicles and components transport equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, footwear
Grant/Loan/Aid
Ongoing Negotiations	[For example FTA and Status]
Disputes
Key Officials	Ambassador/HC– India to South Africa- H. E.  Ruchira Kamboj Ambassador/HC – South Africa to India –  H.E.   Mr France K. Morule

[RUNNING UPDATE – LAST UPDATED ON 20 NOVEMBER TO INCLUDE YEARS 2014-2018 ONLY]

SOURCES:

1. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
2. Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.