New Delhi: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will begin a two-day official visit to India on Friday during which he will be the state guest of honour on Saturday for the Republic Day celebrations in the capital. The South African President will also hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in which bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest will be discussed. President Ramaphosa will also deliver the first IBSA Gandhi—Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture in New Delhi on Friday evening.
In a statement, the MEA said, “At the invitation of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa will undertake a State Visit to India on 25-26 January 2019 as a State Guest of Honour for Republic Day 2019. President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe, and a high level delegation including nine Ministers, senior officials of his Government and a 50-member business delegation. This is the first visit to India by President Ramaphosa as Head of State. He is the second President of South Africa after President Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day.” The MEA also said, “President Ramaphosa will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 25 January 2019, and Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji (President) Ram Nath Kovind will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting President the same evening. President Ramaphosa accompanied by First Lady will pay his respects to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated both nationally and internationally and who has a special resonance in South Africa. President Ramaphosa will have a bilateral meeting and hold delegation level talks with the Prime Minister on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.”
The Ministry added, “President Ramaphosa along with Prime Minister Modi will address the India-South Africa Business Forum on 25 January, 2019.
