Professor Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s envoy to India, expressed strong confidence in the India-SACU free trade pact’s potential to revolutionize economic engagements. Speaking exclusively, he described it as a historic first between India and an African regional group, encompassing Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
Negotiations are gaining pace, with mutual agreement to expedite processes. The bedrock is solid—bilateral trade at $20 billion makes South Africa India’s premier African partner and India South Africa’s fourth-largest globally, comprising 20% of India’s continental trade.
High-profile interactions underscore commitment. At the CII India-Africa Conclave, Minister Parks Tau engaged Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in talks to deepen trade-investment synergy.
Sooklal lauded India’s Global South leadership. The 2023 G20 tenure saw PM Modi champion African Union inclusion, a landmark hailed across Africa. Initiatives like the Voice of Global South Summit prioritize emerging economies’ agendas, crafting equitable world orders.
IBSA advances global reforms. The leaders’ huddle at Johannesburg G20 discussed AI collaboration among priorities, pushing for updates in key international bodies.
The U.S. no-show at G20 didn’t derail success: ‘Full engagement from others produced a robust declaration,’ Sooklal noted, highlighting multilateralism’s strength over isolation.
India’s defiance of U.S. tariffs exemplifies principled sovereignty, inspiring developing economies. The AI Summit ahead, partnered with France, signals Global South prowess in pioneering AI frameworks, vital for harnessing tech’s promise collaboratively.