:
(a) whether India and South Africa have any trade pact;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government have a proposal to expand trade relations with South Africa;
(d) if so, the steps taken in that regard;
(e) whether free trade pact is proposed to be made between both the countries as a part of the plan to expand better trade relations with South Africa; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)
(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 75 TO BE ANSWRED ON 21.02.2003 REGARDING TRADE RELATION WITH SOUTH AFRICA
India and South Africa entered into a bilateral Trade Agreement on 22nd August, 1994. The Agreement envisages strengthening trade, commercial relations and economic cooperation between the two countries on the principles of equality and mutual interest and benefit. It has a provision to review the working and to facilitate the effective implementation of this Agreement by establishing a Joint Inter Governmental Committee consisting of not more than ten Indian and South African representatives respectively. The second meeting of this Committee called ISACA (India-South Africa Commercial Alliance) was held at Pretoria in June, 2002.
Department of Commerce has launched a Focus Africa Programme on 31st March, 2002 to give a boost to Indian exports to Sub Saharan Africa. In the first phase of the Programme focus was laid on seven major trading partners of India including South Africa. Under the Programme, a high level official and business delegation was led by Commerce Secretary to Johannesburg in June, 2002, to coincide with the second meeting of ISACA.
A Preferential Trading Arrangement (PTA) between India and Southern African Customs Union (SACU) of which South Africa is a member, is under discussion. A Joint Working Group (JWG) consisting of representatives from both the sides has been formed to work out the modalities of the agreement. The first meeting of JWG was held in December 2002 in South Africa and the next meeting is scheduled in March/April 2003.