South African President Ramaphosa likely to be Chief Guest at Republic Day

Cyril Ramaphosa will be the second South African leader, after Nelson Mandela, to attend India's Republic Day parade as the chief guest.

Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an invitation to US President, but White House expressed that President Donald Trump would not be making the trip to for the January 26 Republic Day parade due to "scheduling conflicts."

After the US declined India's invitation, the government was looking for a country with strategic and symbolic significance.

India and South Africa are making efforts to develop bilateral relations in order to boost trade and investment relations. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg. During the meet, the two-state heads signed MoUs in the areas of defense, trade, culture, agriculture, and dairy cooperation.

Ramaphosa, 65, became president this year, succeeding Jacob Zuma as South Africa's head of state.