'IPL, trade ties between India and South Africa will improve relations'

Johannesburg, May 12 (ANI): The growing trade and the ongoing Indian Premier League will give a boost to the bilateral relations between India and South Africa, Indian High Commissioner Rajiv Bhatia has said.

"Our trade today stands at about 6.5 billion dollars and it will grow further and we believe that it will strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries," Bhatia said, addressing a press meet during Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari's three day visit to South Africa.

"In the last two years we have witnessed about 30-35 big delegations coming into South Africa and collaborating in spheres like IT, pharmaceuticals, automotive, power, railway, electricity," he added.

Ansari, who visited South Africa to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, attended the swearing-in-ceremony of Jacob Zuma as the fourth president of democratic South Africa on Saturday.

Bhatia also said the ongoing Indian Premier League would also boost the ties between the two countries.

"Tourism resources of both the countries are increasing. Tourists from both the countries are visiting each other and now with the ongoing cricket IPL (Indian Premier League), the image of modern India gets portrayed," he said.

South Africa is playing host to the second edition of IPL after the Twenty20 competition was moved out of India due to its schedule clashing with the ongoing general elections. (ANI)