NEW DELHI, 5 March 2004 — Determined to take South-South cooperation to new heights, the famous three — India, Brazil and South Africa — began their two-day meeting here yesterday.
Co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorin and South African minister Nkosazana Diamani-Zuma, it is the first meeting of India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum which was established in June last year.
The discussions yesterday focused on a plan of action for specific and concrete projects and a road map for greater cooperation in different areas. As their top priority is eradication of hunger and poverty, the three are likely to announce a trust fund to address these problems by providing greater access to education, health and other areas. The fund is likely to be operated under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank said.
