Since SONA 2015 and the last week’s budget, infrastructure has been put in lead as the sector to lead South Africa’s economic recovery. Most economists agree on this point, and National Government is steadily increasing its ability to coordinate project identification, formation and design, through several centralised solutions.
Investment in infrastructure is essential to enhance economic development, intra-trade and regional integration, says Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina. Speaking during the second leg of the 6th annual India Trade and Investment Initiative (ITI) hosted in Kolkata, India, Deputy Minister Masina said it was important to emphasise that the bedrock of new growth in the African continent will come from infrastructure development. “The opportunity to collaborate with Indian companies will make it possible for South Africa to realise the deliverables of the programme, in particular the North-South corridor, with emphasis on road and rail infrastructure,” he said on Thursday. The ITI forms part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s export and investment promotion strategy to focus on India as a high growth export market and foreign direct investment source.
Deputy Minister Masina urged the Indian business delegation to optimally use the ITI platform and give voice to key issues in the infrastructure, agro-processing, mining and minerals beneficiation, electro-technical, cosmetics and renewable energy sectors represented by the 25-member business delegation from South Africa attending the ITI.
The chair of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kalyan Kar, said India’s investment in South Africa is over $33 billion in different sectors.
