Limpopo to strengthen ties with India

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Polokwane- Limpopo premier, Cassel Mathale, will lead a delegation to India to seek trade and investment opportunities that will benefit the province.

Mathale, who returns on April 1, is accompanied by a high level delegation that includes government and business leaders, as well as representatives from the Universities of Limpopo and Venda.

"The mission seeks to promote Limpopo as a first-class tourism and investment destination," said Mathale's spokesman, Phuti Mosomane.

He said the delegation would attend the 7th EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership that is being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi.

Limpopo agriculture MEC Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba will address the conclave on food security, while economic development, environment and tourism MEC Pitsi Moloto will participate in and address the plenary session on the green economy.

The conclave is considered to be the most definitive platform where Indian and African leaders can forge strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

"It is envisaged that the conclave will facilitate discussion on the possibilities for Indian participation in specific African projects and also facilitate focused and individualised business discussions amongst visiting decision-makers," Mosomane said.

He said areas of focus would include agriculture, infrastructure, education, skills development, capacity building and the tourism sector.

The Limpopo delegation will also meet with leaders in the Indian states of Punjab and Andra Pradesh to discuss projects as part of an existing Memorandum of Understanding.

After the conclave, the business delegates will network with Indian businessmen at an international trade initiative in Mumbai. They will be hosted by the South African Consul General to India.

South Africa and India are members of the Brazil, India, China and South Africa (Brics) bloc of emerging economies.