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India, South Africa aim to expand economic ties, address trade imbalance
Sep-04-2026

Aiming to deepen India-South Africa bilateral ties, South African BRICS Business Council (SABBC) is set to visit New Delhi to explore opportunities to expand economic ties with India and address the trade imbalance between the two countries. The SABBC, formed in 2013, promotes trade, investment, and public-private dialogue between South Africa and member nations, focusing on industrialisation, green energy, and African economic development. SABBC will attend the BRICS Business Council and Business Forum meetings in New Delhi on September 10 and 11, ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit. The delegation will seek opportunities in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, digital services, agro-processing and renewable energy, with a focus on increasing higher-value exports and securing investment partnerships.

India is one of South Africa's most significant BRICS+ trading partners, accounting for 20.8% of the country's trade with the grouping in 2025. Despite this, South Africa recorded a trade deficit of around $3.18 billion, with its exports dominated by coal, manganese and chemical wood pulp, while imports were concentrated in petroleum, vehicles, pharmaceuticals and machinery. The SABBC said it would use the trade imbalance as a ‘commercial mandate’ to expand higher-value exports, secure investment partnerships and move the relationship beyond a buyer-seller model towards co-investment, technology collaboration and greater market access. The key issues on agenda include use of Indian technology and capital to position South Africa as a regional automotive production hub, and develop partnerships in pharmaceuticals and medical devices to expand access across Africa.

Moreover, both sides are also expected to explore skills-exchange programmes in information technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and joint ventures in renewable energy and green hydrogen. Further, the delegation will seek to promote South African agricultural products in the Indian market while exploring the use of Indian processing and packaging technologies. Meanwhile, SABBC Chairperson Busi Mabuza has highlighted opportunities offered by African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) BRICS partners, including investment opportunities in infrastructure, industrial projects and regional value chains. She also emphasized that India's next phase of growth requires partners like South Africa which can offer resource security, African market access, industrial collaboration and innovation opportunities.

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