South africa to push for joining bric

Push to join the BRIC (Brazil, India, China caucus) and the expansion of the United Nations Security Council will form part of South African President Jacob Zuma’s discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Push to join the BRIC (Brazil, India, China caucus) and the expansion of the United Nations Security Council will form part of South African President Jacob Zuma’s discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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The South Africans are also keen on adding more economic weight to the bilateral ties, with an aim to increase the bilateral trade to 12 billion $ in 2011-12 from the existing $ 7.2 billion.

Zuma will be visiting India from June 2 to 5.

The South Africans have been keen on being part of the BRIC. They believe that when two other countries of the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) are part of the BRIC, there is no reason why they should be left out. “This issue will surely come up for discussions”, said Harris Majeke, the South African High Commissioner to India on Thursday.

Majeke said that increasing trade and business partnership is top on Zuma’s agenda. “The President is spending a day in Mumbai, meeting the captains of Indian industry and business. We hope to take the bilateral trade to 12 billion in 2011-2012.”