New Delhi’s diplomatic corridors are buzzing with optimism as South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, heralded the proposed free trade agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) as a game-changer for bilateral trade and investment. In an exclusive interview, Sooklal emphasized that this landmark pact would mark the first such deal between India and any African regional bloc.
SACU comprises five key nations—Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa—with the latter leading negotiations on behalf of the union. ‘Both sides have agreed to accelerate discussions,’ Sooklal noted, underscoring the momentum building toward finalization.
Highlighting the robust foundation of their partnership, the envoy pointed out that South Africa stands as India’s largest trading partner in Africa, while India ranks as South Africa’s fourth-largest globally. Bilateral trade hovers around $20 billion, accounting for nearly 20% of India’s total commerce with the continent.
Recent high-level engagements further signal deepening ties. South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau, attended the CII India-Africa Conclave as the guest nation, where he held bilateral talks with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to explore new avenues for collaboration.
Sooklal praised India’s role as a leading voice for the Global South. During its 2023 G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a pivotal role in securing full membership for the African Union in the bloc, a move widely applauded across Africa. India also launched the Voice of the Global South Summit, focusing on developmental concerns of emerging economies.
The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) trilateral has been instrumental in addressing global governance reforms. At the recent G20 Summit in Johannesburg, leaders from the three nations—Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, PM Modi, and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa—convened to discuss key cooperation areas, including emerging fields like artificial intelligence.
Despite the U.S. absence from the Johannesburg G20, Sooklal described the event as a resounding success. ‘All other members participated, leading to a comprehensive declaration tackling major global challenges,’ he said, reinforcing G20’s resilience as a collective platform.
On India’s firm stance against U.S. tariff pressures, the high commissioner commended New Delhi’s principled approach, which has inspired other developing nations facing similar external compulsions. As the world’s fourth-largest economy, India’s sovereignty in trade matters sets a powerful example.
Looking ahead, Sooklal highlighted the upcoming AI Summit in India as a milestone. Co-initiated with France, it positions the Global South at the forefront of AI governance discussions, promising enhanced international collaboration amid rapid technological advancements.