India, S. Africa target $15 b trade by 2014

Press Trust of India Updated - August 29, 2011 at 11:08 PM.

The Minister for Commerce and Industries, Mr Anand Sharma, flanked by Dr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, South Africa, and the Chairman Tata Group of Companies, Mr Ratan Tata, during the India-South Africa CEO Forum in the Capital on Monday. -- Kamal Narang

Expressing the need to take steps to boost economic engagement, India and South Africa today agreed to enhance bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2014.

After attending the meeting of India-South Africa CEOs' Forum, which was co-chaired by the Tata Sons Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata, from the Indian side and the African Rainbow Minerals Executive Chairman, Mr Patrice Motsepe, from South Africa, the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, said that both the sides would deliberate on the recommendations of the forum.

“We have a revised (bilateral trade) target of $15 billion by 2014. We feel that we are on course... but further steps are required and those we will be exploring together,” Mr Sharma told reporters here.

In 2010, the two-way trade stood at $10 billion.

“Some of the recommendations are for the business people themselves like how the business organisations should be working in a particular sector to enhance opportunities. Some of the recommendations are for the government,” the South African Trade Minister, Mr Rob Davies, said.

Published on August 29, 2011 16:58