21 gun salute at Union Buildings for Indian premier

“The visit will be used to further bolster cooperation on economic, political, social and international areas”.

Residents living close to the Union Buildings were caught off-guard on Friday morning when a 21 gun salute thundered a welcome salute for Indian prime minister Narenda Modi.

According to a statement from the presidency, President Jacob Zuma was welcoming Modi on his official visit to South Africa.


Dr. Bongani Ngqulunga said on behalf of the presidency Modi’s visit was intended to boost relations between the two countries.


“The visit will be used to bolster cooperation in economic, political, social and international areas,” he said.
Full diplomatic relations between the two countries started on 22 November 1993. The statement from the presidency said India was South Africa’s largest trade partner.

“To date, India is South Africa’s largest trade partner with trade in 2015 at almost R95 billion. Trade with India represented 4.9% of SA imports and 4.1% of exports last year,.” Ngqulunga said.

Ngqulunga added that both Zuma and Modi would address the South Africa-India Business Forum, which would be preceded by the South Africa-India CEOs forum.

Also read:

Locals jolted by 21-gun salute

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