The arrival of Indians to South Africa 150 years ago, has unleashed heroes and added diversity the country, President Jacob Zuma said during his State visit to India on Wednesday.

"...A most important date... is November 16, 2010. This will, when traced back to November 16, 1860, mark 150 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa," Zuma said.

"In those 150 years, we have seen Indians who were brought to the country as slaves, [and] in the sugar plantations toil their way out of the dehumanising and demeaning garments of slavery, to excellence in different fields" he said.

"These have impacted positively in South Africa's development programmes."

Zuma said in a copy of his speech that was sent to Sapa, that many freedom fighters of Indian ancestry in South Africa continued to "inspire us because of their bravery and commitment".

"Like many of us, these giants of the struggle for justice and peace were inspired by the giant, extraordinary, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. By now you know that South Africa boasts that India gave us Gandhi, and we gave them back a Mahatma."

He said that South Africa was proud that the United Nations eventually recognised Gandhi's birth date, October 2, as "International Peace Day".

Zuma and his wife Nompumelelo arrived in India on Wednesday morning on his first official State visit to Asia since taking office.

The official programme of the State visit would begin on Friday in New Delhi, where Zuma would be received by Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The visit provides an opportunity to strengthen the strong bilateral relationship that both countries share while addressing and promoting the importance of trade, industrialisation, agricultural development, transport development, communication and international affairs," Zuma said.

Zuma is expected to deliver a keynote address at the relaunch of the India-South Africa CEO forum in Mumbai on Thursday.

The Presidency said that the launch of the CEO forum between the two countries, also to be attended by a delegation of over 200 South African business people, was aimed at boosting investment and trade ties.

Chairperson of African Rainbow Minerals, Patrice Motsepe, would lead the South African delegation of the CEO forum, while chairperson of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata, would head the Indian delegation.

It was expected that Zuma's visit would result in the signing of three agreements to strengthen relations between the two countries, including a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation and an amended bilateral air services agreement.