June 2, 2010 1:04 PM

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South African President Jacob Zuma arriving today

South African President Jacob Zuma to arrive Mumbai this evening on a three-day visit to India. He has nearly 200 top businessmen and more than half a dozen ministers accompanying him. In Mumbai, Mr. Zuma, in his maiden visit to India will interact with the Indian business community and push for enhancing trade and investment between the two nations .The two sides are going to re-launch their CEOs forum on Thursday in the presence of Zuma and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma. The charismatic leader of the ruling African National Congress, will hold talks in New Delhi with Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh. The focus will be on international relations, defence, public enterprises, trade and economy, agriculture, transport and communications. Dr. Singh's delegation will include Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Industry Minister Sharma, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and Minister of State for IT and Communications Sachin Pilot. Several agreements spanning diverse sectors are expected to be signed. The two sides will also discuss steps to ramp up bilateral investment and promotion agreement. <br/> Besides focusing on expanding economic cooperation, the UN reforms will be an important area of discussion between the two sides. South Africa and India have supported each other's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2011-12. <br/> Dr Singh and President Zuma last met in Brasilia for the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit in April. Bilateral trade between India and South Africa has multiplied thrice, from $2.5 billion in 2002 to $7.5 billion in 2008-09. Despite the global meltdown, bilateral trade between India and South Africa remained on course last year. <br/> AIR correspondent reports that Mr. Zuma's visit takes place in the 150th anniversary year of the arrival of Indians in South Africa, home to the largest Indian Diaspora. Nearly 1.5 million persons of Indian origin constitute two and a half per cent of the South African population. <br/>

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