In a candid conversation with media, South Africa’s High Commissioner in India, Anil Sooklal, painted a promising picture of the impending India-SACU Free Trade Agreement, predicting a surge in trade volumes and investment flows between the regions. This pioneering FTA, the first of its kind linking India to an African customs union, includes Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
‘We’ve committed to fast-tracking talks,’ Sooklal revealed, reflecting shared enthusiasm. The economic relationship is already formidable: South Africa is India’s top African trade partner, and India is South Africa’s fourth biggest worldwide, with two-way trade nearing $20 billion—20% of India’s Africa trade pie.
Momentum was evident at the CII India-Africa Conclave, where South African Minister Parks Tau, representing the guest nation, met Piyush Goyal to strategize on bolstering business links.
India’s advocacy for the Global South shines bright. PM Modi’s push during the G20 presidency elevated the African Union to full membership, earning continent-wide acclaim. The Voice of Global South Summit further amplified developing nations’ priorities, positioning India as a shaper of inclusive global systems.
IBSA’s contributions to multilateral reforms remain vital. The trio’s summit on the sidelines of Johannesburg G20—featuring Lula, Modi, and Ramaphosa—zeroed in on cooperation in AI and beyond, advocating changes in WTO, Bretton Woods, and UN frameworks.
Addressing the U.S. boycott of the G20 Summit, Sooklal stressed its triumph nonetheless: ‘Participation from all others yielded a strong outcome document on pressing issues.’ He affirmed G20’s collaborative ethos, where abstention yields no gains.
India’s resistance to tariff weaponization drew praise, showcasing economic sovereignty that emboldens peers. The forthcoming India-hosted AI Summit, launched with France, heralds Global South leadership in tech governance, fostering global partnerships for AI’s opportunities and risks.