Defer ‘Look East’ policy, look south: South Africa Diplomat

With the preferential trade agreement still in negotiation stages, the authorities from that nation are working towards facilitating trade activities between the two countries. 

Advanced manufacturing, tourism, nanotechnology among other industries are the potential areas of interest that would strengthen their ties, noted Ben Joubert, Dy High Commissioner of South Africa in New Delhi here on Monday. 

Recado Andrews, Minister Counsellor (Economic) South African High Commission, New Delhi, said the country with an estimated population of 50 million, received over 10 million tourists annually. Of this, only less than a lakh of tourists came from India. So, to increase tourism had to be a concerted activity that could be achieved by reducing depending on north. There is a need to defer looking east and instead south had to gain prominence, he added. 

MM Murugappan, VC, Murugappa Group and Hon Consul of South Africa, in his address, touched upon the location being an important destination for exploring business in diversified areas. Recently, exporter of fruits in Capetown contacted importers of oranges in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore. 

Export of oranges alone had a great potential for business, indicating the appetite of entrepreneurs in the south. Noting that a small role was played to connect the two parties, he said, an organised approach was called for conducting business instead of sporadic attempts. 

R Ganapathi, Sr VP, South India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SICCI), Somi Hazari, Executive Committee Member and S Raghavan, highlighted the request for direct flight links between Chennai and South Africa, which would promote business between the two nations.