Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE SOUTH AFRICA WEEK IN NEW DELHI FROM 17-27 APRIL 1998
The South African High Commission in New Delhi, India, in conjunction with the Oberoi Hotel, New Delhi and South African Airways (SAA) will present a South Africa Week in New Delhi from 17-27 April 1998.
The festivities will kick off on 18 April 1998 with the Gala Opening of the South Africa Week. A veritable who's who of Indian society is expected to attend this event.
A South African Food Festival with the theme "Taste of the Rainbow" will give guests the opportunity to sample dishes representing the whole spectrum of South African cuisine. Three South African chefs are flying to India to assist in preparing the various dishes. A wide variety of South African beers and wines will be introduced to guests.
"Mgenge and the Band", a six-piece outfit from Durban, will entertain audiences throughout the week with vibrant Maskanda music. The band, originally from Eshowe in KwaZulu/Natal, was identified by the High Commission in New Delhi in consultation with the South African Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) with the specific aim of giving exposure to promising but lesser-known South African artists. The trip to India will mark the group's first appearance abroad.
Throughout the week various events will be hosted by the High Commission at the Oberoi Hotel. This will include functions for the captains of Indian industry, journalists, the travel trade and the Military Attache's corps in New Delhi.
An exhibition of traditional South African arts and crafts will be on display while a consignment of king proteas, especially flown in for South Africa Week, will add to the South African flavour at the Oberoi Hotel.
The week's events will culminate in the Freedom Day Reception on 27 April 1998. On this occasion a special commemorative publication, "Partnership '98 : India and South Africa" will be realised. The publication will give readers in both India and South Africa a bird's eye view of how the bilateral relationship has developed and includes articles by prominent South Africans such as Dr Ali Bacher, Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
The past three years (since the establishment of a South African High Commission in India) has seen burgeoning bilateral relations between South Africa and India in all spheres of contact and at all levels. In this period President Mandela has twice paid official visits to India. The highlight of his last visit was the signing of the historic Red Fort Declaration on a Strategic Partnership between South Africa and India, signed on 28 March 1997. Deputy President Thabo Mbeki also led a high-powered business delegation to India during December 1996. During the three-year period more than 50% of members of the South African Cabinet have visited India. This period also witnessed the historic visit to South Africa by then Prime Minister I K Gujral, the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to South Africa.
In this period, trade between South Africa and India has increased from a mere US$ 2 million in total two-way trade to more than US$ 700 million. This trend is expected to continue with total two-way trade projected to cross the US$ 2 billion mark by the turn of the century. Substantial progress has also been made in correctly identifying the two countries' mutual interests in terms of investment and the transfer of technology.
At the socio-cultural level contact has been steadily increasing. Various South African cultural troupes such as "Ahimsa Ubuntu" from the Playhouse Theatre in Durban have toured India and the High Commission has played host to the South African national men's and women's cricket teams, amongst others.
It is expected that the South Africa Week in New Delhi will give further impetus to the all-round development of the South Africa/India relationship while at the same time exposing Indian society to the tastes, sights and sounds of the Rainbow Nation.
The event will present an opportunity to the High Commission to get acquainted with the various partners of the new coalition Government and to market South Africa as one of the exciting "emerging" destinations for the Indian tourist. In the latter regard the up-market tourism niche as well as incentive tours show great promise.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION IN NEW DELHI, INDIA. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 15 APRIL 1998