India-south Africa

India-linked firms partner to resolve South Africa's water, energy crisis

Two South African companies with strong links to India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help resolve the water and energy crisis in the country. Imbanita Consulting and Engineering Services, established in 2017 as a joint venture company between Imbani Holdings and Tata Africa, and the local subsidiary of ION Exchange, which offers total water and environment management solutions, signed the MoU at the office of the Consul General of India here on Wednesday. Bish Chakraborty, CEO of Inbanita, said his company could assist in significantly reducing the load-shedding problems which have left South Africa in the dark for lengthy periods during the past few years. Load-shedding problems have had a drastic effect on the South African economy. Chakraborty claimed Imbanita was very well-placed to assist on the power generation side. Gourish Chakravorty, CEO of Ion Exchange Safic, said his company had been working on the water challenges in South Africa for the past 17 .

South Africa-India in 2024: 30th anniversary of resumed diplomatic ties

Trade between India and South Africa picked momentum in 2024 after a sluggish spell following the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries also marked the 30th anniversary of the resumption of their diplomatic ties this year. Bilateral trade totalled USD 19 billion in the year, surpassing the pre-pandemic figure. We hosted several high-profile Invest India events in partnership with local institutions. An India-South Africa Investment Network was formed to drive more connections and conversations among the investment community. We hosted several capacity-building sessions for South African entrepreneurs through India Entrepreneurs Forum," India's Consul General Mahesh Kumar said. With the India Business Forum, representing the 150 Indian companies with a presence in South Africa, we started sector-specific meetings to have more focused engagements with Indian businesses in South Africa," he added. At a seminar, he also urged South African investors to reconsider the need for Western ..

South Africa holds great tourism potential for Indians: SA minister

South Africa holds immense potential as a as premier travel destination for the Indian market, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said after returning from a recent visit to India. De Lille led a South African delegation on a mission to directly engage with Indian tourism traders, tour operators and associations, business leaders and the media to work in closer collaboration to improve tourists from India to South Africa. This mission was aimed at building relationships through interactions and engagements with tourism trade, captains of industry as well as other relevant stakeholders in the tourism value chain, whilst emphasising tourism as a tool for economic growth, de Lille said as she also commented on showcasing South Africa's tourism offerings during the country's G20 presidency. South Africa took over the presidency of the G20 grouping from Brazil on December 1 this year. India, as a key partner and one of South Africa's most dynamic tourism markets, holds immense potential

India to provide powerplant control centre to South Africa's Eskom

India will provide South African parastatal electricity supplier Eskom with a Powerplant Control Room simulator to train locals in Eskom's plans to renew and repurpose its power stations across the country, an official has said. The announcement was made on Friday after representatives of a dozen Indian energy companies met Eskom executives on the sidelines of the Urja Matla Energy Conference. The conference was hosted by the Indian Consulate General and the Wits Business School. Harish Kumar, Commercial Representative and Head of Chancery at the Indian Consulate in Johannesburg, said at the meeting that India was ready to help Eskom in renovation and modernisation, equipping them with efficient systems through supercritical and ultra supercritical sets, emission control, and latest technologies in transmission and distribution. "Also, we would be willing to provide a simulator of Powerplant Control Room to train the local manpower of Eskom in the operation of power plants. This ..

2 cubs of cheetah 'Nirva' found dead in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park

Despite these setbacks, there has been some success in breeding, with 17 cubs born in India and 12 of them surviving, bringing the current cheetah population in Kuno, including cubs, to 24

S Africa launches scheme to woo tourists from India, China to boost jobs

South Africa has launched an innovative new scheme to increase tourism, especially from India and China, inviting tour operators from those two countries to join their local counterparts in signing up to the scheme. Two months after Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, conceptualised the concept, his Department on Tuesday announced the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), which is aimed at enhancing job creation that flows from increased tourism. This followed discussion with the tourism ministry and the tourism sector in the country to find ways of eliminating visa inefficiency and red tape which had throttled South Africa's ability to attract more tourists from these two burgeoning source markets. To resolve bottlenecks and reposition Home Affairs as an economic enabler, the Department has today gazetted a call for expression of interest by established tour operators from South Africa and abroad who wish to sign up to the scheme to bring more tourists from China and India

India becomes top source of vehicle imports for South Africa's auto sector

India has become the South African automotive industry's top country of origin for vehicle imports since 2013, the Automotive Business Council says in its BRICS+ Research Report 2024. This was because India has been established by various brands as the global hub for small and entry-level vehicles which comprise the bulk of sales in the domestic market, the report said. Tata and Mahindra have firmly established their automotive products in South Africa. Mahindra executives have even repeatedly reaffirmed that South Africa is their second home outside India because of major investments, including a production line in Durban. China and India have consistently featured as two of the South African automotive industry's top 10 trading partners since 2010, mainly due to the increasing level of automotive imports. More recent entrant China has consolidated its position as the second largest country of origin for vehicle imports since 2022 as financially strapped consumers gravitated towar

India-S Africa ties special, can provide global leadership: Envoy-designate

India and South Africa share a special relationship that has potential at every level, the African nation's newly appointed High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal has said, expressing hope that the two countries can play an important role in providing leadership on the global stage. Sooklal, the first person of Indian-origin to be appointed South Africa's High Commissioner to India, made the remarks at an event here hosted to felicitate his appointment. South Africa and India have a special relationship, and I feel extremely privileged and indeed very lucky that I have been chosen to represent my country in India at one of the most interesting times in the history of our relationship, Sooklal said. He said the "special relationship" was highlighted by late President Nelson Mandela, who, after becoming South Africa's first democratically elected leader, visited India "not only to thank the government of India but the people of India for the important role they played (in leading the

From field to festivities: PM Modi to host India's T20 World Cup team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will felicitate the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, and its support staff in a private ceremony on Thursday

Former South African President Jacob Zuma debarred from general elections

Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been disqualified as a candidate in South Africa's general elections scheduled for May 29 due to his criminal record, the Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Friday. Zuma, who was recalled by his own African National Congress (ANC) in February 2018 for refusing to step down, was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2021 by the highest judicial body in South Africa, the Constitutional Court after he earlier walked out of hearings at the Commission of Enquiry into State Capture. The ANC recalled Zuma after huge public outcries about his alleged closeness to the now self-exiled Gupta family who looted billions from state-owned enterprises such as Eskom. These entities are now financially crippled, leading to embattled electricity supplier Eskom being unable to meet the power needs of the country and the rail infrastructure inoperable. The Guptas are believed to be in Dubai and South Africa is seeking their extradition to face trial here. Zuma

Brics' New Development Bank aims to make $5 billion in loans in 2024

Brics Chief Zhou also said he expected China's economy to grow about 5% this year, in line with the government's target

FTA talks with SACU nations on the cards after new govt takes over

The customs union includes South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini

India, S Africa, Egypt introduces paper on WTO dispute settlement reform

India, South Africa and Egypt have introduced a paper regarding ongoing discussions on the reforms of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) dispute settlement body, an official said. The paper - Reflections on the Reform of the WTO Dispute Settlement System - was introduced in a meeting of the body in Geneva. In the meeting, "India took the floor to introduce the joint communication from Egypt, India and South Africa," the Geneva-based official said, without disclosing details of the paper. It was circulated among the WTO members on November 24. The introduction of the paper assumes significance as India is batting for starting formal negotiations by WTO members to reform the dispute settlement body, as the present informal deliberations are creating hindrances for several nations to participate in the talks. WTO's dispute settlement body (DSB) is one of the important arms of the 164-member Geneva-based body. Besides monitoring global exports and import-related rules, it adjudicate

IBSA countries laud G20 summit in India, extend support to Brazil

The IBSA ministers reaffirmed G20's role as the premier forum for international economic cooperation

INS Sunayna concludes its visit to Port of Durban in S Africa to boost ties

This visit aimed to bolster India's maritime relationships with its partners and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR)

2 more cheetahs released in Madhya Pradesh's KNP range, count now at 12

Two more cheetahs have been released into the wild at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district, taking the count to 12, a senior forest official said on Tuesday. Eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were brought to the KNP and released into special enclosures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17 last year as part of an ambitious programme to reintroduce the species in India. Twelve more cheetahs seven males and five females were brought to the KNP from South Africa on February 18 this year. On Monday, two male cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, were released into the wild at the KNP, Sheopur's Divisional Forest Officer P K Verma said. Both of them were brought to India from South Africa, the official said. Now, the number of cheetahs in free range has gone up to 12, while five felines and a cub are in the enclosures, he said. Six cheetahs, including three cubs born to cheetah Jwala, have died at the KNP since March. C

India to start FTA talks with African Customs union in next 3-4 months

Deal to focus on wider market access for goods and services

India plans to challenge European Union's carbon border tax at WTO

The CBAM's transition phase will kick in from October, followed by levying carbon tax from January 2026

PM Modi speaks to South African President Ramaphosa, reviews bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday as they reviewed progress in their bilateral cooperation, anchored in historical and strong people-to-people ties. Modi also thanked him for the relocation of 12 cheetahs to India earlier this year, according to a statement. They also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in BRICS in the context of South Africa's chairmanship this year, it added. "President Ramaphosa briefed PM on the African Leaders' Peace Initiative. Noting that India was supportive of all initiatives aimed at ensuring durable peace and stability in Ukraine, PM reiterated India's consistent call for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward," it said. In their telephonic conversation, Ramaphosa conveyed his full support to India's initiatives as part of its ongoing G20 presidency and said that he looked forward to his visit to India.

India no longer lumbering around at relatively slow pace: EAM Jaishankar

India is no longer "lumbering around at a relatively slow pace", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said as he concluded his three-day visit to South Africa for a conclave of the five-nation BRICS grouping. Speaking at a reception hosted by the local diaspora and expatriate community in Cape Town in his honour Saturday evening, he also spoke about the special relationship between India and South Africa, which would celebrate 30 years of new diplomatic ties. The minister was in the city with his counterparts from Brazil, Russia, China for the BRICS bloc meeting hosted by South Africa. "This is no longer the India that was lumbering around at a relatively slow pace. When it comes to digital, I can assert with a great deal of confidence, that I see practices (and) efficiencies in India which I don't see even if I go to Europe and North America," Jaishankar said. "This scale of change which is taking place in India, when we speak about the pace of transformation of these nine years