Prof. A. Sooklal is currently South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh & Nepal. He previously served as Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg. He also served as South Africa G20 Sherpa, BRICS Sherpa, IBSA Sherpa and Focal Point of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). He also served as Deputy Director General of Asia and Middle East in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). He holds a PhD in Oriental Studies and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and prior to joining the South Africa Foreign Service as he lectured at the university of South Africa and University of KwaZulu Natal.