Boost for India-sa trade relations
High Commissioner sets her sights on growing South Africa’s business footprint in India
IT’S been more than a year since career diplomat Ruchira Kamboj was appointed India’s High Commissioner to South Africa.
“Impressive” for Kamboj is the country’s rich mix of culture, ethnicity, languages and religions, much like India.
“I find a lot of similarities in South Africa, it’s like a smaller version of India,” Kamboj said.
As a student of economics it’s small wonder that she has a greater inclination to use her influence to help strengthen trade relations between the nations.
India’s investment in South Africa is already worth $10 billion.
Kamboj said plans were double that figure by 2021.
Automobile, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals and IT were some of the key sectors that have been earmarked for injections of Indian investment, assured Kamboj.
The spadework for those developments were done during the first-ever India-south Africa Business Summit held in Sandton, Johannesburg, in April, at which Kamboj was a key orchestrator.
Kamboj has now set her sights on facilitating local businesses growing their operations in India.
“I’m happy to announce that we will be following up on the April summit where we brought 1 000 leading Indian businesses to South Africa. On November 12 and 13 we want to reverse the cycle by looking at how we can get South African businesses to invest in India.”
Kamboj said after a 13-year hiatus, even the “defence ties” between the nations has been fired up once again.
“In the past, Denel (a local manufacturer of defence products and solutions) has been a major arms exporter to India.
“This year, all the administration restrictions on Denel were lifted and now they are free to do business with the Indian government and private sector.
“The future looks good,” Kamboj said.
Knowledge exchange between the nations was another area that Kamboj said would receive more attention.
“Knowledge is a strength that we’d like to also share with South Africa and we have to exciting projects with that in mind.”
She referred to the Gandhi-mandela Skills Training Institute that was launched in Pretoria last month and the ongoing scholarship and mentorship programmes that the Indian government and businesses made afoot to available to locals.
“Since 1993, over 1 200 South Africans have received skills and technical training in India.”
Kamboj said the Pretoria institute, which is set to be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2019, will provide electrical, mechanical fitting, boiler-making and millwright skills training.
“All the equipment, machines, training and trainers will be provided by India. If this pilot project works, we hope to set up similar skills institutes around the country.
“This project is worth millions of dollars.”
With India known to be among the fastest growing global economies in the world, Kamboj said it was heartening that women were key decision makers in business and the government in both countries.
“It’s been proven that women are excellent when given responsible positions.”
Kamboj said the old and stodgy patriarchal way thinking was dissipating, even the #Metoo campaign had gathered considerable momentum in India and South Africa.
“It is a process of evolution. In the past, some women would have hesitated to speak out, but many are now outspoken.”
About EFF leader Julius Malema’s comments that the majority of South Africans of Indian descent were racist, Kamboj said: “That is a subjective view. We have to question who is saying that and their motive.
“If you look at Indian immigrant communities around the world, you won’t find more disciplined, hard-working, diligent and God-fearing people.
“We must be proud of the progress, success and achievements of the Indian community in South Africa.”
With Diwali days away, Kamboj said the festival symbolised hope and light over darkness and though it might be tough economic times for South Africa, “good will always triumph over bad”.