Indian High Commissioner to South Africa Virendra Gupta has affirmed the centrality of South Africa in his country’s Africa policy.

“All countries are important,” he observed on Thursday, “[but] I would say that, for us, South Africa is one of the most important countries in Africa, [and] in the developing world. India and South Africa are on the same side of the [developed/underdeveloped] divide. We have huge investment interest [here]. Under these circumstances, it is natural for us to look to South Africa for anchoring our overall engagement with Africa.”

Gupta highlighted that the more then 20 year sojourn of the “Father of the Nation”, Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi, in South Africa, provided a strong moral basis for the bilateral relationship. He also stressed the importance of the South African Indian community in providing a key connection between the two countries.

Talking about Indian relations with Africa in general, he stated that “we wouldn’t want our relationship with Africa to be measured in the number of billions in soft credits that we provide. Other countries can do that. We have a different take on our relationship with Africa.”

He pointed out that India had older ties with Africa than some other countries (which he did not name), who had only recently given attention to the continent, because of its natural resources. India wanted partnerships with African countries and wanted to focus on human development.

He recalled that both India and Africa has been exploited by colonial powers. “We would not want the slightest implication that anyone would see India’s relationship with Africa as one of exploitation.”

Gupta was addressing the South African Institute of International Affairs conference on India, South Africa and Africa in a changing global landscape, in Johannesburg.