Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Monday heaped praise on the Indian community in South Africa saying they have contributed "a great deal" to the country's economic and political landscape.
"Many have made their marks in commerce, legal field, media and a host of others," he said at an Indian Expo Exhibition underway in Johannesburg.
Zuma said as the first country to cut trade ties with the apartheid government in 1946, India worked consistently to put the issue of apartheid on the United Nations agenda for the imposition of comprehensive international sanctions against South Africa. Given the background of India's support to the anti-apartheid struggle, it was only natural that the two countries should work so closely together to consolidate relations.
"The Indian economy has withstood the global economic downturn better than most, and remains one of the world's fastest growing economies," said Zuma, adding that during his recent visit to India it was agreed to focus on the expansion of economic, trade and investment relationship between the two countries and further broaden cooperation.
An agreement was also reached to deepen relations on among other issues, the acceleration of partnerships in the areas of science and technology, agriculture, human resource development and security for both countries. The expo, also known as the India show, is supported by the Ministry of Trade and the Government of India.
