Recently, Mr. Amar Singh Thakur, the Honorary Chairman of the India SADC Trade Council, engaged in a productive discussion with the High Commissioners from Namibia, Lesotho, and other SADC nations in Delhi.
He discussed launching business initiatives in South India for South African countries. “The Contribution of the SMEs to Healthy Trade Systems and Sustainable Livelihoods in SADC countries will be the focus of the various delegations that I will be heading in the coming months.”
The Delhi meetings during the SADC meeting at the Federation of the Indian Exporters Organization (FIEO) aimed to bridge smaller enterprises with the India-Africa Trade Council.
Mr. Thakur views his appointment as chairman for promoting South African countries as a recognition of SMEs’ contributions and the efforts of companies, notably in the Pharma and Health sector in Southern Indian cities.
The upcoming visit by his delegation highlights the crucial role of the Healthcare and Medical devices sector and outlines a path for sustainable development and regional collaboration in South African nations. He plans to present his project at the UN MSME day on June 27th in Bengaluru.
Mr. Thakur also highlighted the timely visit coinciding with MSME Day, a crucial milestone for the SME sector in South Africa. He commended the SADC Secretariat for their efforts in bolstering ties with India and Namibia. Notably, a delegation visited Malawi, another SADC country, engaging with the President and Cabinet ministers and signing an MOU with First Capital Bank there.
Namibian High Commissioner Gabriel emphasized on the strong India-Namibia relations via the India-Namibia Trade Commission, lauding it as a model for policymakers and stakeholders. He stressed the need for Action Plans to implement visit recommendations, particularly in advancing MSME sector goals. Under his leadership, 9 Indian delegations have fostered successful collaborations in Namibia over the past 3 years.
Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization, emphasized that fostering collaboration and inclusivity in supporting SME guidelines and decision-making can contribute significantly to overall business development and sustainable trade systems in the MSME value chain. Additionally, he mentioned plans for a Cancer Hospital in collaboration with expert infrastructure developers, which will also benefit other SADC member States by addressing gaps in MSME collaborations with Indian companies.