Deputy President Paul Mashatile has announced significant investment commitments from Indian business leaders following high-level engagements during the first leg of his official working visit to India, marking a strategic deepening of economic ties between the two BRICS nations.
Speaking to media representatives in New Delhi on Tuesday, Mashatile described the visit as “highly productive,” emphasizing that it has reinforced the longstanding strategic partnership between South Africa and India while unlocking fresh avenues for trade, investment, and economic collaboration.
Strategic Engagements Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Leading a delegation of South African ministers and deputy ministers, Mashatile held substantive discussions with senior Indian leadership, including Vice President Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan and President Droupadi Murmu. Talks centered on expanding cooperation across trade, investment, skills development, infrastructure, and multilateral forums.
“Our meetings reaffirmed our historic common bond of cooperation and friendship between South Africa and India,” Mashatile stated. “We are deepening collaboration in trade diversification, investment promotion, skills development, and multilateral cooperation through platforms such as BRICS, IBSA, the G20, and the United Nations.”
Both nations expressed commitment to aligning their development agendas—South Africa’s support for Africa’s Agenda 2063 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision—to drive inclusive growth across the Global South.
Business Roundtables Catalyze Investment Momentum
A cornerstone of the visit was Mashatile’s engagement with India’s private sector. He delivered a keynote address at the Global Trade and Technology Council of India (GTTCI) Business Round Table and met with executives from the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), a premier technology industry body.
“There was consensus on South Africa and India transitioning from dialogue to action,” Mashatile noted, “aiming to transform historic solidarity into a future-oriented partnership centered on innovation, industrialization, and shared prosperity.”
The delegation held targeted discussions with major Indian corporations—including Mahindra Group, Jindal Power, IGT Solution, Thermax, and UFlex—operating in energy, water, infrastructure, agriculture, and information and communications technology.
“Our discussions focused on expanding investment footprints in South Africa in sectors such as renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, mining, and infrastructure,” the Deputy President added.
Additional opportunities explored included agricultural exports, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and local vaccine manufacturing.
Tangible Outcomes and Market Access Breakthroughs
Key outcomes from the visit include:
- Investment Commitments: Indian industry leaders pledged to scale up investments in South Africa, with priority focus on clean energy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, and automotive components.
- Agricultural Trade Progress: South Africa welcomed India’s notification enabling in-transit cold treatment for South African citrus exports—a regulatory advancement expected to significantly expand market access for South African citrus producers.
- Multilateral Alignment: Both countries reaffirmed cooperation on reforming global governance institutions and advancing developing nations’ interests through coordinated multilateral engagement.
- People-to-People Ties: Agreements were reached to deepen cultural, educational, and historical exchanges, building on the strong foundational bonds between the two societies.
Mashatile underscored South Africa’s strategic positioning as India’s gateway to the African continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “This visit has laid a solid basis for greater cooperation and development of a better future for all,” he said. “It reinforces our role as a reliable partner in advancing the development agenda of the Global South.”
Next Stop: Hyderabad Focus on Tech and Pharma
The second leg of the Deputy President’s itinerary will take the delegation to Hyderabad, a global hub for pharmaceuticals and information technology. Engagements there will prioritize partnerships that foster innovation, youth employment, and sustainable economic growth.
“I committed myself to growing investment in South Africa and to building mutually beneficial relationships with India, rooted in shared prosperity,” Mashatile affirmed. “Our business in South Africa and India will be facilitated.”
Expressing optimism about the trajectory of bilateral relations, Mashatile indicated that this visit represents the beginning of sustained high-level engagement. “As the second Deputy President of South Africa to visit India, I want to affirm that though this trip is my first visit, it is the beginning of many to come. I look forward to returning to India in the near future to further strengthen our relations, deepen our economic partnership, and advance sustainable development.”
The Deputy President concluded by extending gratitude to the Government and people of India for their warm hospitality and steadfast partnership throughout the visit.
