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India, South Africa keen to boost trade, tourism

A direct flight between Delhi and Johannesburg, South Africa is under consideration. This will be in addition to the existing direct flight between Bombay and Johannesburg.

This was disclosed at a seminar on 'Tourism cooperation between India and South Africa', jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, or FICCI, and South African High Commission, today.

Maite Nkoana Mashabane, High Commissioner of South Africa in India, said that various other steps are also being contemplated to promote tourism between India and South Africa.

These measures would include granting permission to buy duty-free gold from South Africa, proposal for signing Memoranda of Understanding, or MoUs, between travel agents of India and South Africa, facilitating granting of visa without any hassles.

Later speaking at the seminar on doing business in Northern Province, South Africa, Mashabane said that there is scope for co-operation between India and South Africa in setting up small and medium industries, and joint venture in coal mining.

Mashabane also said that there is opportunity for alliances in the chemicals and infotech sectors.

Mashabane said that the trade between India and South Africa is growing rapidly, starting from $ 2 million in 1992-93 to $ 1.8 billion in 1999. This is expected to cross the $ 2-billion mark by the end of this year.

Several joint ventures by way of technical cooperation have taken place in areas like mining, construction, power, roads and food processing.

R Ramasundaram, joint secretary, Ministry of Commerce, said that though the trade between the two countries is showing an increasing trend, it is necessary to take measures to expand the existing areas of trade and investment and also to find new areas of co-operation.

India has identified six sectors -- engineering products, software and information technology, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, mining, small and medium enterprises and infrastructure - for boosting trade ties with South Africa.

UNI

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