New Delhi, April 7 (NationPress) The forthcoming India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is viewed by South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, as a significant opportunity to enhance economic relations with India in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, green energy, IT, and agriculture.

"This summit is focused on intensifying, expanding, and maximizing the connections between the African continent and India," Sooklal remarked during an interview featured on the Independent Online (IOL) news site.

He emphasized that India serves as a global pharmaceutical hub, with numerous Indian companies actively operating throughout Africa, including in South Africa.

"The African Union's designation of South Africa as the pharmaceutical hub for Africa presents an excellent opportunity for collaboration with India in this field," he noted.

Furthermore, he identified green energy as another promising area for partnership, pointing out that India, in collaboration with France, established the International Solar Alliance. India has made significant advancements in solar, wind, and hydrogen energy within its green energy initiatives, which align with South Africa and the broader African continent's goals.

"India is also committed to a comprehensive green energy initiative. The country, along with France, founded the International Solar Alliance, showcasing a strong focus on solar, wind, and green hydrogen technologies," Sooklal stated.

“We are already collaborating with India in the energy sector, but there is potential for much greater cooperation, particularly in green energy,” he added.

On the industrial front, Sooklal mentioned that Mahindra & Mahindra has established an assembly plant in South Africa, but the government is eager for the Indian tractor manufacturer to set up a full manufacturing facility within the country.

He acknowledged the numerous synergies and complementarities that exist between India and Africa in terms of trade.

"We are rapidly industrializing across the African continent, focusing on new technologies and digital commerce. These are significant strengths of the Indian economy. India is a leader in the digital domain, and I believe both sides stand to gain immensely by deepening our trade and investment relations," the envoy asserted.

Sooklal also highlighted India's achievements with digital public infrastructure (DPI), which has lifted over 250 million individuals out of poverty in the last decade, bringing extreme poverty down to below 5%. He believes Africa could attain similar outcomes.

He contrasted agricultural productivity, noting that while India, with nearly 1.5 billion people, is self-sufficient in food production, Africa, despite having the largest arable land area globally, struggles with food security.

Additionally, he sees significant potential for South Africa to enhance its ports and highways in collaboration with India, which has successfully developed its infrastructure on a grand scale.