India-Africa Forum Summit: An Opportunity to Strengthen Trade Partnerships, Says SA High Commissioner

South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal , has detailed the country’s potential to significantly strengthen economic and strategic ties with India, particularly through the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) .

The IAFS, which is supposed to take place every four years, was last held in 2015 .

“The summit is to see how relations between the African continent and India can be intensified, expanded and maximised,” Sooklal said.

Pharmaceuticals: A Key Focus

Sooklal highlighted the pharmaceutical medical sector as a key focus area, noting India’s major global presence as the pharmaceutical hub of the world.

“I believe the decision by the AU to have South Africa as the pharmaceutical hub of the African continent provides us with an opportunity to partner with India in this sector to develop the African pharmaceutical hub here in South Africa.”

Green Energy

“India is also on a massive green energy drive. They founded the International Solar Alliance with France. High focus on solar energy, wind energy, and green hydrogen.”

“All of the areas we are focusing on in South Africa and the African continent, it’s happening in India. I believe this is a natural ally for us.”

Manufacturing

“Mahindra has an assembly plant here, but we want full manufacturing, and Mahindra has indicated that they are looking at setting up full manufacturing in South Africa.”

Digital Infrastructure

Sooklal noted India’s success with digital public infrastructure (DPI) , which lifted over 250 million people out of poverty in a decade, reducing abject poverty to under 5%. He believes Africa can achieve similar results.

Agriculture

Sooklal highlighted the contrast: India, with nearly 1.5 billion people, is food self-sufficient; Africa is not, despite having the largest tract of arable land globally.

“A partnership on agricultural modernisation, agroprocessing can be to the benefit of the continent working in partnership with India.”

Infrastructure

India is on a massive infrastructure drive, and Africa is in the same space.

“We need massive infrastructure development, not just digital infrastructure but physical infrastructureour ports, our rail, our airports, our roads, all of these.”

Education

Sooklal said the education sector will also be heavily focused on, and he is sure India will again offer thousands of scholarships to African students.

The Bottom Line

The summit is a chance to strengthen ties in pharmaceuticals, green energy, manufacturing, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and education.

Sooklal is convinced the summit will see significant attendance and provide numerous advantages for the African continent.

“India is a natural ally for us.”

{Source: IOL}

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