Indians invited to invest in South Africa

Monday, 28 April 2003, 19:30 IST
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HYDERABAD: A senior minister from South Africa Friday invited Indian businessmen to invest in the area of information and communication technologies in her country and promised all assistance from the government. Minister for Communication Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi, leading a trade delegation, and South Africa's envoy Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane interacted with representatives of IT companies at a seminar organised by NASSCOM here. Inviting Indian technology, expertise and investment, they said the information and communications technology sector in their country offered huge business opportunities. They underlined the need to build on the strong historical relations and synergies between the two countries by expanding trade ties. They emphasized the need for both countries to cooperate in the changing global scenario. Ivy said the African continent was trying to shape its destiny and India had an opportunity to be part of this change. With a large presence in South Africa (1.5 million), east Africa, including Tanzania and Kenya, people of Indian origin had a crucial role to play in this process. The minister said India and South Africa could exchange the latest technologies to change the lives of their peoples. "If India find a solution to the problems of the people through these technologies, they can be used for people in South Africa and vice-versa. We can use these solutions for countries in Africa, South America and Asia," she said. The minister said South Africa looked to India for its strong democracy, policy development and legislations in technologies like IT and convergence. The high commissioner asked Indian companies to come to South Africa with a strategy different from the strategy they adopt in the U.S. and Europe. "Don't leave South Africa after investing or setting up your operations. Indians are a part of South Africa. You will not feel alien there," she said. The minister said the fact that she was visiting Hyderabad for the fifth time this year proved the growing ties between the two countries, and especially with a city like Hyderabad, which had become a major centre for IT and biotechnology. She said South Africa could assist India in its plans to document all its citizens.
Source: IANS
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