The Centre for Indian Studies in Africa (CISA) will be formally inaugurated on September 16 at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. The centre is said to be the first of its kind in Africa.
Announcing this to a team of visiting mediapersons from India, Navdeep Suri, Consul-General of the Indian mission in Johannesburg said, “The centre is going to be a major milestone in India-South Africa relations. We are looking for a person in India who could head the centre.”
Suri said the centre would offer diploma and post-graduate courses in various subjects including Indian history, languages, sociology, economics and the related subjects. The centre would be located on the University campus. As much as 85,000 Rands (African currency) have been sanctioned by the varsity for the establishment of the Centre, he added.
“The whole idea behind opening a study centre is to forge links across Indian Ocean. There is also going a chair under the National Research Foundation programme. This would be largest research programme in the entire South Africa in the government sector.”
The official launch of the CISA is linked to an Indian literature festival and a business conference — 'Engaging India', being organised by the Indian Consul-General, Confederation of Indian Industry and Edward Nathan Sonnenberg, a leading SA law firm.
Writers such as Ramachandra Guha, William Dalrymple, Kunal Basu, Nayanatara Saghal and Pavan Verma would be among the invitees for the Indian Literary Festival. Arts Live - a musical concert, is also being organized, Suri said.
Tourism
Referring to tourism, the Consul General said tourist traffic between South Africa and India has shown an upward trend but is still below potential. As many as 42,500 people from South Africa traveled to India in 2006 against 18,238 in 2002. In 2005, 36,045 people from India traveled to South Africa and it was 34,062 in 2002.
Poor air connectivity between India and South Africa, delays in the processing of SA business visas and work permits required by Indian firms and creeping protectionism in sectors such as pharmaceuticals are some of the key constraints.
“But we are addressing these problems. We have taken up the issues with the SA government. The consulate-general office is working as catalyst. There is plenty of investment opportunity both here and in India. But lot of SA businessmen look towards the West rather than the East,” he pointed out.
Largest market
South Africa is India’s largest market in Africa and exports from India to SA have grown from US$352 million in 2001-02 to over US$2.25 billon in 2006-07. The exports mainly comprises automobile, mineral fuels, iron and steel, machinery and instruments, chemicals, cotton yarn and fabric.
In a recent positive development, the International Marketing Council (IMC) of SA has opened its office in Mumbai, only its third office abroad.
The IMC, which works directly under the Presidency, has the mandate of promoting SA as a brand in foreign countries. Dr Govin Reddy, a South African, heads the Mumbai office.
