South Africa seeks investments from India

     New Delhi, Dec 2 (PTI) Huge investment opportunities are there for Indian businesses in South Africa, the country's High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal said on Monday.
     He also asked the South African companies to look at India as it is the "best" place in the world for investments.
     "Africa is the best place at the moment, It is rising and the gateway into the African continent is South Africa. I invite all business, please come to South Africa," he said at a business conclave, organised by industry chamber Ficci here.
     About 40-member South African business delegation is in the country.
     Speaking at the function, Head of Invest South Africa Yunus Hoosen said investment opportunities are there in sectors such as renewable energy, mining, and manufacturing.
     Bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 19.3 billion in 2023-24.
     Later, Ficci in a statement said South Africa announced sweeping reforms to its travel infrastructure, introducing a new digital entry travel agreement (ETA) system and simplified visa procedures as the nation seeks to revitalise tourism links with India.
     South African Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille (MP), said the new ETA system will replace the existing e-visa programme, leveraging technology to create a more efficient entry process.
     The minister, as per the statement, announced meetings with Air India, Indigo, and SpiceJet to explore direct flight routes between the countries.
     The initiative aims to restore direct connections between Mumbai and Johannesburg, which were discontinued in 2015, currently forcing travellers to route through Middle Eastern or African hubs.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)