South Africa will be hoping to strengthen its ties with other emerging economies in the Southern hemisphere next week when new president Kgalema Motlanthe meets the leaders of India and Brazil.

The trilateral summit, which takes place in Delhi on October 15, is the third such gathering of the India, Brazil, South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA), and the first since the current global financial crisis that is continuing to rock markets around the world.

The South-South meeting is significant given that the three developing economies have a combined GDP of nearly $5.3 trillion.

"The three countries also desire to strengthen their cooperation. A large number of sectors are involved, particularly agriculture, trade and industry, science and technology, tourism, and culture," Indian High Commissioner to South Africa Rajiv Bhatia said in an interview with Engineering News.