President Kgalema Motlanthe arrived in India on Tuesday ahead of the third India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) summit – his first official visit abroad since he took to the helm as president of South Africa, the department of foreign affairs said.

"It is his first official visit abroad as president," said spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.

Earlier at a media briefing in Pretoria, director-general Ayanda Ntsaluba said ministerial consultations began on Tuesday and the summit would be held on Wednesday.

Among the items expected to top the agenda were the food crisis, the energy crisis and the latest crisis to hit the global finance sector.

Mamoepa said the intended agreements to be signed were on cooperation in tourism, and memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the field of human settlement development and in environment.

Two five year action plans would also been signed for civil action sector and maritime projects.

Motlanthe would be delivering a statement to the summit on the theme of connectivity and Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would speak on energy and food.

Motlanthe was also expected to hold a meeting with the Indian Congress Party before paying a courtesy visit to Indian President Smt Pratibha Patil.

Sapa