Amid South Africa's keen interest to raise its investments in India, New Delhi and Johannesburg are expected to sign at least seven pacts, including in the field of visa and customs, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh travels to that country on Saturday.
Dr Singh will visit South Africa for three days, during which he will inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the launch of Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi there.
The prime minister will also hold talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki on a range of bilateral issues, including energy cooperation, trade and investment.
The two sides are expected to sign seven agreements, including one on exempting visa requirement for diplomatic and official passport holders, South African High Commissioner Francis Moloi told PTI here.
Agreements on cooperation in education, sports and recreation, science and technology, police matters, customs and railways are also likely to be signed, he said.
The visit is expected to provide a push to the proposed preferential trade agreement between the South Africa Customs Union and India. South Africa attaches immense significance to the prime minister's visit as it will help "further augment and strengthen the special, warm and unique relationship between the two countries that goes back many years".
