Hyderabad, Oct. 17: The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, on Friday called for greater cooperation between India and his country in the fields of information technology and biotechnology.

Addressing a Nasscom-organised meeting on "India-South Africa Cooperation in Knowledge-based Industries", Mbeki said South Africa, which is among the biggest producers of diamonds, gold and other minerals, was behind India in the field of Science and technology. He said the two countries should work 'closely to tap opportunities in the field of IT and pharmaceutical research.

Mbeki, who was in Hyderabad as the head of ministerial and business delegation, said Indian companies could provide their South African counterparts expertise in management and research and development.

The South African Minister for Communications, Ivy Matsepe Cassaburi, said the two countries could explore co-sourcing in the business process continuity and disaster recovery segments.

Alec Erwin, the Minister for Commerce and Trade, made a presentation on South Africa's investment climate and potential.

Earlier, speaking at the manufacturing facility of Bharat Biotech International Ltd. a biotechnology company here, Mbeki called for greater cooperation in medical research and development between India and South Africa.

"Developing countries can not expect the developed nations to do research for us and find solutions to our problems. We need to come together and develop necessary capacities ot meet our challenges," he said. He was impressed by the progress made by Indian biotechnology companies, adding, "When we go back, we will think of how we can combine our strengths to address our problems."