South Africa plans to open consul general office in Chennai

Chennai:
South Africa is planning to enhance its presence in Tamil Nadu and is
planning to open a full-fledged consul general office in Chennai,
according to South African High Commissioner to India Harris Majeke.

Addressing a press conference along with South Africa’s Deputy
Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe and South Africa
consul general in Mumbai Pule I Malefane, he said after Mumbai and
Delhi, Chennai is on the radar screen of South Africa as Tamil Nadu
has a huge potential in manufacturing and technology sector.

He said Chennai is like the second home for South Africa and it
provides a level-playing field for South African business.

Thabethe said that South Africa wants to partner with Tamil Nadu as it
is the largest contributor to India’s economy and said the 45-member
high level trade delegation, from South Africa eyeing opportunities in
auto clusters and energy sector of Tamil Nadu.

Thabathe said the delegation is looking at opportunities in mining,
agro-processing, telecom, energy, automotive components, ICT,
manufacturing and infrastructure besides pharmaceuticals.

Seema Sardha, economic consul of South Africa in Mumbai, who was also
present on the occasion, said that South Africa is currently focusing
on preferential trade agreement that focuses on trade in goods. “Once
we achieve it then we will focus on free trade agreement which will
focus on goods and services,” she added.

Interestingly the bilateral trade of $11 billion between India and
South Africa for 2012 was realized a year earlier and the target was
reworked to $15 billion by 2014.

Earlier, addressing a Conclave on Doing Business with South Africa,
Tamil Nadu Industry Minister Thangamani invited South Africa to invest
in the state and highlighted the economic prowess of the state.
Industry secretary Sundaradevan and president of Southern India
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) Jawaher Vadivelu were also
present on the occasion.