South Africa is simplifying it’s visa procedures to drive trade and tourism from India.
While the annual two-way trade between the two countries is around $ 14 billion, South African exports are dominated by commodities, especially coal.
The country is looking to diversify it’s exports, seek new investments and attract more Indian visitors with simpler visa rules and direct air connectivity.
Quick issuance
On Thursday, South Africa’s tourism minister Patricia de Lille announced the introduction of an electronic travel authorisation scheme for quick issuance of visas to ordinary leisure tourists and business persons from India. A scheme is also being rolled out in partnership with tour operators for faster processing of group visas.
“South Africa’s doors are open. The country is ready to welcome businesspersons and leisure tourists,” de Lille said while addressing a gathering in Mumbai.
The minister said the investor sentiment has turned positive after the new government assumed charge in June and rating agency S&P Global has revised it’s outlook to positive on improved GDP growth prospects.
“We have seen a number of investment commitments. For our government the main priorities are building an inclusive economy and creating new jobs,” de Lille said.
“India and South Africa are natural partners. We are trying to reset the relationship and hope to increase the two way trade to $ 20 billion in four years,” South Africa’s high commissioner to India Professor Anil Sooklal said
A former trade unionist, de Lille joined South Africa’s national government as a minister for public works and infrastructure in 2019. She was appointed as tourism minister in the country’s first multi-party coalition government in June.
De Lille is leading a business delegation on a week-long visit to India to forge closer ties and attract more tourists from India.
Over 57,000 Indian tourists visited South Africa between January to October. In 2023 arrivals from India to South Africa stood at over 79,700. This was an increase of 43 per cent compared to 2022.
South Africa will host the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg next November and the country hopes to capitalise on this occasion to attract more tourists
Alongside the summit, the country will have around 200-300 business events across its nine provinces, de Lille said.