Overview
- Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday for wide-ranging talks that reaffirmed a commitment to deepen bilateral ties.
- Discussions focused on boosting trade, investment, MSME links, digital infrastructure and defence cooperation with both sides agreeing to work closely in international forums.
- India and South Africa reviewed the proposed India–Southern African Customs Union preferential trade agreement and signalled hope for an early start and successful conclusion to negotiations.
- The vice president thanked South Africa for support to India’s Project Cheetah and invited South Africa to join India-led initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
- The visit combined political meetings with public outreach and business engagement and builds on long-standing links between the two countries that could expand market access, joint exercises and conservation partnerships if negotiations move to formal agreements.