South Africa and India deepen trade and investment partnership

Deputy President Paul Mashatile undertook an official working visit to New Delhi, with engagements focused on trade, investment and bilateral cooperation between South Africa and India. The visit formed part of Pretoria’s broader effort to position South Africa as a preferred investment destination.

Strategic reset in a key South–South corridor

Mashatile was accompanied by ministers and deputy ministers on the official working visit to India. In New Delhi, he held high-level talks with India’s Vice President Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan and President Droupadi Murmu. Discussions focused on trade, investment, skills development, infrastructure and multilateral cooperation. According to the article’s characterization, both sides reaffirmed their historic relationship and alignment in forums such as BRICS, IBSA, the G20 and the United Nations.

According to the article’s characterization, both governments framed the talks within broader development agendas, referencing South Africa’s support for Africa’s Agenda 2063 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, with a stated focus on inclusive growth and reform of global institutions.

Mashatile also moved to shift the relationship from political affinity to execution. He told reporters there was consensus on moving from “dialogue to action”, aiming to translate historic solidarity into a future-focused partnership anchored in innovation, industrialisation and shared prosperity.

Pipeline building: energy, autos, ICT and agriculture

The visit included engagements with the Global Trade and Technology Council of India (GTTCI) and follow-on engagements with NASSCOM, India’s technology industry body. These meetings targeted India’s strengths in software, digital services and advanced manufacturing — areas that Pretoria views as critical for jobs and productivity.

The visit included engagements with Indian corporates such as Mahindra Group, Jindal Power, IGT Solution, Thermax and UFlex, with discussions reported to have focused on expanding investment activity in South Africa. Priority sectors discussed included renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, mining and infrastructure. The parties also explored cooperation in agricultural exports and agro-processing, mineral beneficiation and vaccine manufacturing, aligned with South Africa’s industrial policy goals.

According to a South African Government News Agency report, Indian industry leaders made commitments to increase investments in South Africa across several sectors. Investors should consult official government and company announcements to confirm the scope and status of any specific commitments.

The visit also included discussion of market access for South African citrus exports, with reference to India’s notification of in-transit cold treatment. Investors and exporters should consult official trade notices from the relevant Indian and South African authorities to confirm the status and implications of this development.

The visit also produced commitments to deepen people-to-people ties, leveraging long-standing cultural and historical links between the two countries. Mashatile said the trip had positioned South Africa as India’s “gateway into Africa” under the continental free trade regime and reinforced Pretoria’s role as a reliable partner in advancing the development agenda of the Global South.

According to the official itinerary, the second leg of the visit was scheduled to take Mashatile to Hyderabad for further engagement with pharmaceutical and information technology leaders, with a focus on innovation, youth employment and growth. Investors and corporates should monitor official government and company announcements for confirmed project outcomes arising from the visit, particularly in clean energy, automotive components and digital infrastructure.

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